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Y.  "A  good  liook  is  tlio  nreciou.s  life-blood 

3]  of  a  master  spirit   eniDalined  and  treas- 

*S]  iired  up  on  pun)0sc  to  a  life  beyond  life." 

]a  -Millo)!. 


7'^/.'2.4*, 


LIBRARY  OF   THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


Seciien •1L.^«^&^ 


SKETCHES 


JUL  :•:'.  1924 


FllOM   THE 


Life  of  Jesus 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTlimAL 


BY  REV.  E.  W.  THAYER 


SI'RINGFIELD,    ILLINOIS 


•      FLEMING   H,  REVELL  COMPANY 

CHICAGO:  I  NEW  YORK: 

148  AND  ir)()  Madison  Street.   I         ;W  Union  Sqttake,  East, 
Publishers  of  Evangelical  Literature 

1 891 


Enterod  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1891,  by 

Rev.  E.  W.  THAYER, 

In  tlie  ofTice  of  tho  Librarian  of  Congress,  Washington,  D.  C 


THE  H.  W  ROKKBR 

Printino  and  Binding  Housk. 

Springfield.  .11. 


PREFACE. 

It  is  an  01  loon racing-  si|Li:ii  of  the  timos,  that  so  iniich 
study  is  devoted  to  the  investigation  of  the  ministry  of 
the  great  exemplar,  and  no  labor  can  be  more  pleasant 
and  profitable  than  that  so  expended.  Anything  that  can% 
contribute  to  the  life-like  and  realistic  view  of  our  Lord  in 
his  earthly  ministry,  is  a  lasting  benefit  to  the  race;  as 
bringing  him  still  nearer  to  us.  Perhaps  there  may  be  foun- 
dation for  a  criticism  of  the  Lives  of  Jesus  lately  offered 
to  the  public;  that  in  them,  attention  is  principally  directed 
to  the  acts  of  his  ministry,  to  the  neglect  of  the  doctrines 
so  inseparably  connected  with  his  work,  which  give  the 
history  its  whole  interest.  It  is  the  doctrine  that  gives 
the  sword  its  cutting  edge,  and  its  penetrating  point.  The 
bare  incidents  of  the  ministry  form  a  monotonous  and 
somewhat  barren  narrative.  Doctrines  are  associated  with 
his  coming,  which  are  asserted  with  unparalleled  force  by 
the  simple  presence  of  a  divine  actor  in  human  life.  These 
doctrines  enforced  with  demonstration  and  insistence  in 
the  history,  are  the  most  important  matters  in  the  whole 
account.  The  present  effoi't  is  an  attempt  to  portray  some 
of  the  leading  incidents  of  the  ministry  in  the  light  of  the 
associated  doctrines.  The  chronology  of  events  is  not 
closely  followed  in  these  papers,  many  occurrences  having 
no  connection  nor  interdependence;  but  standing  alone,  a,nd 
dissociated  from  any  thread  of  biography.  If  the  following 
pages  should  stimulate  any  to  a  closer  apphcation  to  the 
sacred  histories,  and  study  of  the  great  central  figure,  such 
a  result  will  amply  repay  all  the  labor  bestowed  upon 
these  essavs.  K.  ^\  .  T. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Historical  Importance  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth 1 

Reasons  for  the  Delay  of  the  Advent 13 

The  Birth 23 

John  the  Baptist 35 

Call  of  Peter  and  His  Associates 46 

The  First  Miracle 55 

A  Sketch  of  the  Ministry (J5 

The  Expulsion  of  the  Traders 78 

Nicodemus 89 

Woman  of  Samaria 101 

Recovery  of  the  Centurion's  Servant  in  Capernaum....  Ill 

The  Raising  of  Jairus'  Daughter 122 

The  First  Outbreak  of  Murderous  Enmity IS 3 

The  Cure  of  the  Paralytic  in  Capernaum 143 

The  Demoniac  of  Gadara 153 

The  Charge  of  Complicicity  with  Satan 163 

The  Growing  Hatred  Against  the  Nazarene 175 

The  Transfiguration 185 

Jesus  Walking  on  the  Sea 195 

The  Lunatic  Boy  at  the  Mount  of  Transfiguration 205 

The  Penitent  Harlot 216 

The  Syrophenician  Woman 226 

The  Man  Born  Blind 236 

The  Rich  Young  Ruler 245 

Conversion  of  Zaccheus 256 

The  Raisino-  of  Lazarus 267 


Vlll  TA15LE   OF  CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Triiiinplial  Eutry  into  Jerusalem 278 

Judas  Iscariot 289 

Arrest  and  Examination  before  Caiaphas 300 

Trial  Before  Pilate 311 

Innocence  of  Jesus.    Part  1st 323 

Innocence  of  Jesus.    Part  2d ; 335 

Bearing-  our  Sin 34G 

Atonement 357 

A  View  of  His  Sufferings 308 

The  Sum  of  the  Jewish  Types 381 

The  Resurrection  of  Jesus 31)5 

The  Resurrection  of  Jesus.    Tale  of  tlie  Soldiers 407 

The  Resurrection  of  Jesus.    The  Witnesses 417 

The  Twelve  Apostles 420 

The  Ascension 441 

The  Intercession 454 

The  Miracles 464 

The  Teaching- 474 

Parables 485 

Did  Our  Lord  Teach  in  Hebrew  or  Greek? 501 

Individuality  of  the  Evangelists 511 

The  Testimony  of  History 52(3 

The  World  Could  Not  Contain  the  Books 538 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE  HISTORICAL   IMPORTANCE 

OF 

Jesus    of    Nazareth. 


The  most  remarkable  personage,  that  has  ever  appeared 
on  this  earth,  was  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  Obscure  and  short- 
lived as  he  was;  since  liis  time  and  b}^  an  influence  emana- 
ting from  him,  the  complexion  of  the  world  in  every  respect, 
political,  social  and  religious,  has  been  undergoing  a  gradual 
change,  that  will  certainlj^  culminate  in  a  new  order  of 
things.  Though  centuries  have  been  required  to  compre- 
hend and  apply  the  principles  enunciated  by  him ;  yet  their 
effect  is  already  so  visible,  that  we  can  forecast  the  period 
of  their  full  development.  The  era  of  his  advent  was  the 
sunrising  of  truth  and  knowledge;  and  from  it  date  the 
decay  of  idolatry,  the  birth  of  real  science,  the  amelioration 
of  government,  the  extension  of  liberty,  a  permanent  civili- 
zation, and  an  intelligible  religion.  Nature  is  revealing  her 
closely-guarded  secrets  to  Christian  philosophy ;  and  real 
science  has  established  a  bureau  of  discovery  and  invention : 
and  is  almost  issuing  a  new  revelation.  Governments  are 
becoming  paternal,  and  the  welfare  of  the  individual  man 
has  become  the  supreme  object  of  desire.  What  we  see  is 
but  the  beginning  of  the  stream  of  influences  proceeding 
from  the  Man  of  Nazareth,  which,  broadening  and  deepening 
like  a  river,  has  not  yet  reached  its  high-tide  mark. 

When  we  turn  back  to  take  a  closer  view  of  the  person, 
from  whom  this  force  has  emanated;  we  see  one  possessing 
not  the  splendor  of  a  statesman  or  warrior,  or  even  the 


2  SKETCHES  FEOM   THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

milder  glory  of  a  philosopher.  We  are  at  a  loss  to  account 
for  the  fact,  that  one,  so  utterly  destitute  of  everything  at- 
tractive to  the  world,  should  evidently  be  the  source  and 
author  of  a  movement,  which  is  to  issue  in  the  entire  reno- 
vation of  human  society.  While  he  lived,  every  circum- 
stance of  his  condition  was  such  as  to  render  him  little 
and  contemptible  in  the  eyes  of  men.  Poverty  and  mean- 
ness attached  to  his  lot,  such  as  have  often  led  a  proud 
man  to  disown  his  kindred,  and  blush  to  acknowledge  a 
parent.  Not  only  did  the  great  and  wise  regard  him  with 
scorn:  but  the  same  feeling  of  contempt  unaccountably 
swayed  the  multitude  — a  scorn  which  it  required  great 
moral  courage  in  a  disciple  to  face.  Reproach  was  cast 
upon  him  such  as  to  intimidate  real  and  sincere  friends; 
while  fears  for  safety,  and  even  for  life,  staggered  the  tried 
fidelity  of  disciples. 

The  spirit  which  animated  him,  the  precepts  and  the  doc- 
trines which  he  taught,  seem  to  us,  as  they  did  to  the  men 
of  that  age,  above  the  level  of  our  ordinary  humanity ;  and 
beyond  the  reach  of  our  attainment;  and  when  we  come 
to  the  tragic  conclusion  of  his  life,  we  are  astonished  at 
ourselves,  that  we  feel  not  for  him  the  common  sympathy 
which  suffering  claims,  and  which,  to  bleeding  innocence,  is 
never  refused.  While  the  accusations  and  acts  of  his  per- 
secutors are  utterly  condemned  by  us;  yet  the  poor  tribute 
of  our  tears  is  refused  to  him;  and  he  is  altogether  "with- 
out form  and  comeliness,  and  there  is  no  beauty  wherefore 
we  should  desire  hj-m."  Veiled,  as  he  is,  hy  poverty,  re- 
proach and  rejection,  yet  his  importance  may  be  learned : 

1.  From  the  length  of  time  his  coming  had  been  ex- 
pected. The  announcement  to  Adam  of  the  appearance  of  a 
divine  personage,  who  should  also  be  the  seed  of  the  woman, 
who  should  crush  the  head  of  the  old  serpent,  regain  man's 
lost  inheritance,  and  atone  for  human  sin,  was  all  that  pre- 
served him  from  the  despair  and  enmity  of  a  devil.  The 
manner  in  which  this  atonement  should  be  accomplished  was 
probably  set  forth  at  the  same  time  in  the  institution  of 
the  rite  of  sacrifice,— the  first  blood  shed  on  the  earth  being 
the  blood  of  the  lamb,  picturing  the  great  substitute  and 
his  work.     (lod's  love  forebore  to  condemn  the  race,  and 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  6 

appointed  the  o-reat  sin-bearer,  who  shoiihl  atone  by  the 
shedding-  of  his  own  blood. 

Successive  revehations,  in  time,  all  had  reference  to  the 
predicted  Savior;  to  the  line  of  his  descent,  the  period  of 
his  advent,  and  the  nature  of  the  work  which  he  should 
accomplish.  The  most  elaborate  and  particular  ])repara- 
tions,  extended  through  more  than  eighteen  centuries,  were 
made  to  identify  him  when  he  should  appear,— preparations 
which  rendered  mistake  impossible.  It  was  the  one  vital 
thing  to  discover  him  when  he  came ;  the  e^^es  of  the  world, 
Gentile,  as  well  as  Jew,  looked  with  longing  for  his  advent. 
Prophets,  in  their  peculiar  ecstasy,  spoke  wonderful  words, 
which  themselves  but  half  understood,  respecting  him.  A 
long  line  of  them  pointed  forward,  and  proclaimed:  "Be- 
hold, he  Cometh!"  Th(»  mightiest  of  them  was  but  a  mere 
momentary  voice,  declaring:  "Behold  the  Lamb  of  God!" 
No  prophet  was  thus  preannounced  except  John  the  Bap- 
tist, and  he  only  on  account  of  his  close  connection  with 
the  man  of  promise.  As  soon  as  Jesus  of  Nazareth  had 
completed  his  course  and  established  the  dispensation ;  "the 
vision  and  the  prophecy  were  sealed  up.''  Heaven  had  no 
further  communication  to  make. 

Not  only  was  he  thus  predicted  by  verbal  announcement; 
but  a  system  of  typical  and  ceremonial  institutions  was 
established,  and  perpetuated  for  centuries ;  conveying  addi- 
tional knowledge  and  description  of  his  character  and  work, 
defined  more  accurately'  than  words  could  communicate, 
and  above  all  suspicion  of  human  device. 

However  men  may  regard  him,  in  heaven  he  was  known 
to  be  earth's  onlj'  hope;  the  morning  star  that  heralded 
the  close  of  a  night  of  endless  despair;  the  bow  of  peace 
shining  in  front  of  the  lowering  and  angry  clouds  of  divine 
vengeance;  the  mediator,  who  reconciles,  at  the  price  of  his 
own  blood;  "the  lamb  of  God  which  taketli  away  the  sin 
of  the  world." 

2.  His  importance  is  discoverable  from  the  change,  which 
his  appearance  has  produced.  At  his  coming  a  new  sun  arose 
upon  the  world.  Human  science  advances  very  slowly,  and 
by  a.  single  step  at  a  time — a  single  step  in  a  generation 
or  more.    From  him  the  liffht  shone  with  the  suddenness 


4  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

of  a  tlieophany,  and  with  a  flood  of  brilliance.  In  the  iu- 
vestio;ation  of  nature,  man  ma}'  extend  his  knowledge  to 
indefinite  limits;  he  may  measure  and  weigh  revolving- 
globes,  sound  the  depths  of  space,  and  penetrate  the  se- 
crets of  the  universe  with  angel  ken,  but  in  morals  he  can 
make  no  discover}'.  All  the  world  knows  of  morals  and 
religion  is  contained  in  the  teachings  of  the  Xazarene. 
There  is  not  an  accredited  truth  but  is  contained  in  his 
sayings ;  not  a  sound  maxim  of  morals  but  is  found  there. 
He  flashes  upon  us  in  the  gospels,  teaching  with  no  dele- 
gated authority,  communicating  no  messa,ge  emanating 
from  a  source  superior  to  himself.  His  language  is,  "I  say 
unto  you,''  even  while  authoritatively  expounding  the  law 
of  God.  Moses  had  not  attained  to  the  inculcation  of  a 
universal  love  to  all  men.  Jesus  says:  "I  say  unto  you, 
love  your  enemies'' — a  precept  which  has  a  force  and  life 
capable  of  yet  subduing  the  world ;  a  precept  which  none 
but  he  had  the  soul  to  utter. 

For  him  to  have  spoken  falsely  or  foolishly-  once,  would 
have  vitiated  all  his  pretensions  and  proved  him  an  im- 
postor: but  a  divine  wisdom  sounds  in  all  his  words.  He 
held  the  key  of  the  whole  revelation ;  and  by  him  the  Jewish 
system,  which  was  the  gospel  in  its  bud  stage,  at  once  de- 
veloped into  the  gorgeous  glory  of  the  flower.  What  dis- 
covery has  since  been  made  in  religious  science?  All  pre- 
ceding prophets,  and  succeeding  apostles  and  other  teachers 
of  the  truth,  are  but  as  the  pale  moon,  deriving  from  him 
what  light  they  dis^minate,  and  hiding  their  dim  face  when 
he  appears. 

Religion  is  the  most  important  subject  of  investigation;  and 
the  history  of  the  world  shows,  that  if  the  minds  of  a  peo- 
ple are  confused  and  bewildered  in  their  views  of  religious 
truth :  they  are  also  on  all  subjects  of  less  importance.  The 
absurd  chimeras  of  blind  superstition  are  associated  with 
the  lowest  follies  of  cosmogony  and  philosophy.  Religion 
is  the  keystone  of  the  arch  of  knowledge:  and  nothing  more 
contributes  to  the  advancement  of  the  human  mind,  and 
the  excitement  of  all  its  powers,  than  a  religion  based  on 
everlasting  truth,  able  to  endure  the  most  critical  exami- 
nation, and  requiring  of  men  those  duties  which  have  their 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  5 

foundation  in  eternal  right.  Let  the  mind  be  mystified 
here,  and  required  to  believe  what  is  clearly  contrary  to 
common  sense;  and  the  door  of  all  knowledge  is  closed  at 
once.  Correct  religious  views  are  thus  connected  with  pro- 
gress in  science  of  everj'  kind. 

Jesus  of  Nazareth,  our  onh^  teacher  in  morals,  has  thus 
not  only  given  us  a  system  of  divine  truth  perfect  in  itself; 
but  one  whose  reception  is  connected  with  all  real  advance 
in  general  knowledge.  Science  and  arts  flourish  with  it; 
and  its  extension  is  accompanied  with  the  improvement  in 
government,  comforts  and  progress  visible  in  Christian 
lands.  Men  become  exalted  and  nations  are  great,  because 
they  believe  in  him. 

3.  His  importance  may  be  learned  from  the  sensation 
which  he  produced.  No  individual  has  ever  made  such  an 
impression  on  the  world  as  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  His  record 
is  written  on  the  hearts  of  men  in  indelible  characters. 

A  nation  was  never  so  moved  by  any  personage,  as  was 
the  Jewish  nation  by  the  humble  and  despised  Nazarene. 
The  rage  of  this  people  against  him  was  unbounded.  With 
the  most  determined  energy  he  was  rejected  by  them ;  they 
gnashed  their  teeth  at  the  mention  of  his  name;  they  pur- 
sued his  followers  with  slaughter  for  his  sake.  From  the 
time  of  their  rejection  of  him,  their  national  character 
underwent  an  entire  change.  It  is  possible  for  prejudice 
and  passion  to  gain  over  men  an  influence  so  seated  as  to 
render  them  virtually  insane.  Pharaoh  affords  an  instance. 
As  we  see  him  rush  on  the  thick  bosses  of  Jehovah's  buck- 
ler, growing  more  desperate  with  everj^  successive  struggle, 
we  are  almost  ready  to  inquire,  is  this  man  or  demon? 
King  Saul's  history  shows  that  passion  may  come  to  ]50s- 
sess  so  might3'  a  disturbing  force  in  the  mental  economy, 
as  to  be  almost  equivalent  to  madness.  Such  cases  occur 
occasionally :  but  eighteen  hundred  years  ago,  the  spectacle 
was  presented  of  a  whole  nation  stired  to  the  bottom  of 
their  natures,  and  wild  with  demonaic  rage  against  one 
whom  they  affected  to  despise.  The^'  became  uncontrollable 
by  Roman  gov^ernors,  fiercer  than  wolves  against  the  name 
of  Jesus;  so  that  Paul  would  sooner  be  tried  before  Nero 
than  at  Jerusalem.    They  were  ''contrary  to  all  men,''  and 


6  SKt:TCHES  FROM  THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

movers  of  sedition  wlierever  the  name  of  Jesus  was  preached; 
and  their  fanaticism  reached  such  a  height,  that  it  became 
necessary  to  the  peace  of  the  world,  that  Jerusalem  should 
be  destroyed. 

This  was  not  the  usual  policy  of  the  Roman  government; 
thej'  never  destroyed  cities:  they  were  wiser  than  to  deso- 
late fruitful  countries,  and  obliterate  mighty  cities.  In  their 
whole  history  of  seven  hundred  years,  they  had  never 
doomed  but  one  city  to  utter  distruction  and  perpetual 
desolation.  This  was  Carthage,  a  rival  of  Rome  for  the 
dominion  of  the  world :  nor  were  they  hasty  in  reaching 
this  conclusion  respecting  her.  The  intolerance  and  bitter- 
ness of  the  Jewish  people  had  become  such,  that  their 
national  existence  was  incompatible  with  the  peace  of  the 
world :  but  still,  the  nmsters  of  empire  were  lenient  and 
slow  in  their  procedure;  and  were  forced  into  the  contest 
by  the  ungovernable  spirit  of  the  deluded  nation,  who 
raised  the  standard  of  revolt,  and  themselves  began  the 
war.  Even  then  it  was  not  in  the  heart  of  Titus  to  deso- 
late the  country,  or  destroy  the  city  or  temple.  The  maniac 
fury  of  the  entire  population  forced  the  ruin  against  the' 
wishes  of  the  Roman  general.  The  victors  found  themselves 
compelled,  by  the  spirit  of  the  people  themselves,  to  blot 
out  the  very  name  of  their  city,  and  leave  a  populous  and 
flourishing  country  a  scene  of  universal  desolation. 

The  rebuilding  of  the  city  was  forever  forbidden,  but  for- 
l)idden  in  vain.  The  Rcjmans  themselves  found  it  necessary 
to  rebuild  it,  and  pj^ocoupy  it  as  a  military  post:  in  order 
to  keep  it  out  of  the  hands  of  the  turbulent  and  seditious 
remnant  of  the  scattered  nation,  whose  blood  Adrian  shed 
like  water,  making  their  metropolis  a  garrisoned  fortress  of 
their  foes.  No  peace  seemed  possible  for  the  world :  until 
Jewish  blood  was  lost  in  amalgariiation  with  the  great 
family  of  nations:  an  event  destined  in  the  decrees  of 
Jehovah  never  to  occur. 

Now,  what  was  the  cause  of  all  this  prolonged  passion? 
A  poor  and  des])ised  teacher  had  for  the  space  of  three  or 
four  years  exercised  his  ministry  among  them :  and  never 
had  such  a  convulsion  of  the  human  heart  followed  the 
career  of  mortal.    The  like  had  never  been  seen  on  earth. 


HISTORTCAL  AND   DOCTRINAL.  7 

before  or  since.  The  destruction  of  Jerusalem  can  be  ex- 
plained only  bv  admitting  the  literal  truth  of  the  whole 
o'ospel  story. 

The  name  of  Jesus  stands  thus  engrossed  on  the  pages 
of  history,  and  furnishes  the  interpretation  of  the  events  of 
the  time.  Josephus  describes  his  fellow-countrymen  as  a 
nation  of  madmen.  He  seems  at  a  loss  to  account  for  their 
fearful  corruption :  and  attributes  the  displeasure  of  Heaven 
against  the  guilty  city  to  the  crime  of  killing  James,  the 
Christian  apostle  resident;  in  such  a  manner  as  to  show 
that  he  understood  their  national  depravity  to  be  con- 
nected, as  an  effect  with  its  cause,  with  their  opposition  to 
the  disciples  of  the  Xazarene,  whose  name  he  declined  to 
mention,  but  of  whom  he  was  pondering  more  deeply  than 
he  wrote.  He  evident^  wondered  at  the  leniency  of  Titus, 
and  declares  that  had  not  the  Romans  destroyed  Jerusalem  ; 
God  would  have  consumed  it,  as  Sodom,  by  fire  from 
Heaven. 

Moreover,  never  did  a  being  on  earth  excite  so  deep  affec- 
tion as  this  Jesus.  A  continually  increasing  class  of  men. 
attended  him,  who  loved  him  so  as  other  being  was  never 
loved.  For  him  they  were  willing  to  endure  any  suffering, 
not  counting  their  lives  even  dear  unto  them.  Povert}', 
hardship,  and  persecution  had  no  terrors  for  them.  No 
worldly  temptation  could  seduce  them.  A  living  ideal  was 
before  them,  whom  they  followed  in  the  bloody  way  himself 
had  trodden.  Such  men  as  the  early  Christians,  so  devoted 
to  a  service  fraught  with  every  danger,  and  offering  no 
earthly  reward,  the  world  had  never  seen.  And  what  was 
the  formative  cause  of  their  character?  The  twelve  had  the 
advantage  of  all  men,  in  being  intimate  associates  of  the 
Nazarene.  They  knew  him  thoroughl.v;  they  had  passed  with 
him  throuiih  all  the  exciting  scenes  of  his  ministry.  They 
had  heard  all  his  conversations  and  public  discourses : 
had  seen  all  his  miracles,  witnessed  his  crucifixion,  and 
been  transfixed  by  it.  Having  almost  given  him  up  for  an 
impostor,  and  being  sunk  in  the  deepest  stagnation  of  un- 
belief, and  inexpressibly  determined  to  listen  to  no  further 
deception,  they  had  yet  been  forced  to  admit  the  fact  of  his 
resurrection. 


8  SKETCHES  FROM   THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

This  fact  corrected  and  enlarged  their  views,  and  imparted 
the  faith  and  courage,  at  which  all  generations  wonder. 
They  had  even  seen  him  as  a  God  ascend  to  his  native 
heaven;  and  the  everlasting  doors  admitted  him. 

As  we  look  back  through  the  ages  at  the  long  line  of  his 
followers,  we  see  the  generations  immediately  succeeding  the 
apostles  distinguished  bj-  a  timid  conscientiousness  and  an 
incredible  self-denial.  Many  of  the  early  Christian  fathers 
were  superstitious,  weak,  and  foolish;  but  their  weakness 
was  the  weakness  of  excessive  conscientiousness.  They  had 
not  learned  the  broad  and  liberal  interpretation  of  their 
Lord's  injunctions  current  in  more  modern  days.  The 
heretics  of  the  time,  also,  none,  of  them  denied  the  existence 
and  ministry  of  the  Savior,  or  the  facts  of  his  career  as  re- 
lated in  the  gospels.  Three  centuries  dimmed  the  impres- 
sion of  his  personality;  before  the  Arian  heresy,  denying  his 
divinity,  took  form. 

Great  men,  borne  on  the  wave  of  favoring  circumstances, 
have  shaped  events,  and  left  their  own  impress  on  their  gen- 
eration. Bonaparte  accomplished  such  a  result,  but  onl^^  by 
the  aid  of  myriads,  whose  united  force  was  guided  by  his 
own  great  talents.  Jesus  was  unaided  by  any  worldly  in- 
fluence. All  the  impression  which  he  made  was  by  simple 
example  and  teaching.  The  movement  initiated  by  the 
mightiest  of  the  sons  of  men  is  transcient,  often  ephemeral; 
that  begun  by  Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  destined  to  reach  to  the 
remotest  ends  of  the  earth,  and  to  continue  through  all 
time. 

4.  His  importance*  is  discoverable  from  the  miracles 
which  he  wrought.  A  miracle  is  a  work  of  God  himself 
operating  immediately,  and  not  through  the  established 
laws  of  nature.  They  are  for  the  instant  suspended ;  while 
the  omnipotent  will  exerts  its  energy.  Of  course  miracles 
are  acts  of  God  alone.  The  wonders  of  the  Egyptian  ma- 
gicians were  mere  tricks  of  legerdemain.  The  ^vitch  of  En- 
dor  was  moi'e  terrified  at  the  real  aj^peai'ance  of  Samuel 
than  was  Saul  himself.  She  had  never  recalled  one  from 
the  dead  before. 

The  most  essential  point  in  the  discussion  of  miracles  is, 
that  they  were  never  wrought  for  the  relief  of  human  suf- 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  \) 

fering-  merely.  Myriads  of  children  have  been  born  blind; 
we  have  no  account  of  more  than  one  or  two,  to  whom 
sight  has  been  restored.  Millions  of  martyrs  have  been 
condemned  to  death,  and  have  been  left  to  die ;  no  one  has 
ever  been  delivered  except  the  three  Hebrews.  The  tomb 
has  swallowed  an  innumerable  host ;  one  only  has  returned 
on  whom  its  doors  had  closed. 

If  miracles  were  wrought  for  the  relief  of  men  chiefly, 
they  would  occur  in  every  age.  No  emergency  has  ever 
been  deemed  sufficient  to  demand  the  visible  interposition 
of  Jehovah;  but  one  in  which  his  own  honor  has  been 
vitally  concerned.  They  are  wrought  for  the  cause  and  the 
honor  of  God  only,  and  on  no  other  account.  Hence  they 
have  been  confined  to  certain  epochs;  the  establishment  of 
a  church  on  earth,  when  Israel  came  out  of  Egypt  by  mir- 
acle, and  its  continued  preservation. 

When  miracles  have  been  necessary  in  order  to  prevent 
the  knowledge  of  God  from  being  extinguished,  or  to  de- 
fend the  nation,  the  sole  depository  of  his  truth  from  de- 
struction; and  no  other  course  would  suit  the  tremendous 
necessities  of  the  occasion ;  the  veil  of  natural  law  has  been 
drawn  aside;  and  Jehovah  has  stretched  out  his  naked 
arm  from  behind  the  clouds  and  thick  darkness  of  his 
throne  for  the  defense  and  confirmation  of  his  own  truth. 
His  people  could  not  have  been  delivered  from  Egypt,  sus- 
tained in  the  wilderness,  and  settled  in  Canaan,  with  the 
abiding  conviction  of  those  divine  truths  needful  for  the 
world,  without  the  miracles  which  recorded  and  enforced 
them  as  with  a  pen  of  iron.  None  were  wrought  but  on 
an  occasion  big  with  the  honor  of  the  Eternal  Jehovah. 

So,  when  the  nation  had  almost  utterly  apostatized,  and 
but  a  remnant  of  seven  thousand  remained  faithful;  and 
Ehjah  felt  that  he  stood  alone  against  the  current  of  idol- 
atry; God,  in  his  own  sovereign  way,  "turned  their  heart 
back  to  him,"  and  forced  the  knowledge  of  himself  upon  a 
backslidden  and  reluctant  people  by  miracle. 

So,  at  Babylon,  he  secured  by  miracles  the  end,  Avhich  in 
no  other  wa^'  could  have  been  attained ;  recovered  his  apos- 
tate people;  and  made  kings  their  nursing  fathers,  and  their 


10  SKETCHES  FROM   THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

queens  nursing-  mothers.  The  nunibei-  of  such  dii'eet  inter- 
positions does  not  reacli  four  score. 

Miracles  have  ceased  for  eighteen  hundred  years.  Nothing- 
can  occur  of  ini])ortaiK'e  sacred  enough  to  justify  a  super- 
natural interference :  not  the  suffering  of  groaning  millions, 
not  the  peril  of  nations  or  of  the  race.  There  exists  but 
one  cause  of  value  sufficiently  high  and  holy  to  call  for  a 
miracle;  as  there  is  but  one  purpose  for  which  such  a 
prodigy  has  ever  occurred. 

The  life-time  of  Jesus  and  his  apostles  was  an  epoch 
marked  by  miracles  above  all  others  it  the  annals  of  time. 
He  was  the  figure  of  the  age.  Heaven  emptied  out  its  in- 
habitants at  his  birth.  The  wliole  realm  of  nature  felt  and 
owned  its  Lord ;  and  its  laws,  firm  as  the  universe,  gave 
way  at  the  woi'd  of  one  clothed  in  our  humanit3^  Every 
class  of  intelligent  beings,  angels,  devils  and  men:  every 
department  of  creation,  earth,  sea  and  sky;  every  evil  and 
every  good,  bowed  to  him,  and  acknowledged  his  suprem- 
acy. The  number  of  his  mighty  works  was  too  great  for 
record ;  the  world  could  not  contain  the  books. 

All  the  wonders  which  God  has  ever  wrought,  had  they 
clustered  around  one  age  and  one  individual,  were  inferior 
to  the  works  which  attended  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  and  desig'- 
nated  him  as  the  ^lessiah.  If  the  woi-ks  effected  b^' 
prophets  prov^ed  theui  to  be  what  they  claimed  to  be,  com- 
missioners of  Jehovah ;  we  must,  by  the  same  rule,  receive 
Jesus  for  what  he  professed  to  be.  All  these  prodigies  were 
not  so  striking  as  was  the  mysterious  being  himself  whose 
word  effected  them.  'It  was  not  the  works  so  much  as  his 
manner,  his  word,  and  his  sublime  consciousness  of  ''all 
power." 

Now  a  miracle  never  lies.  We  may  innocently  doubt  the 
statement  of  the  best  of  men  on  some  occasions ;  but  a  mira- 
cle commands  our  implicit  faith  at  once.  AVe  cannot  question 
without  rejecting  the  authority  of  Almighty  God.  No  mat- 
ter how  little  the  miracle  may  appear  to  us,  if  it  be  only 
the  rod  of  Moses  becoming  a  ser])ent — Pharaoh  disregarded 
it  at  the  peril  of  his  kingdom  and  his  life.  If  we  refuse  the 
testimony  of  the  works  to  the  divinity  of  Jesus,  we  do  so 
at  tlie  peril  of  our  souls. 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  11 

5.  His  importance  is  learned  from  the  triumph  of  his  re- 
ligjion.  His  is  the  only  eternal  religion.  Its  object  of  wor- 
ship, its  requirements,  nor  its  doctrinal  axioms  have  un- 
dergone change  since  the  first  institution  in  the  Garden  of 
Eden.  It  is  the  only  religion  that  has  been  extended  by 
reason,  conviction  and  the  in-esistible  force  of  truth.  The 
sword  of  conquerors,  or  the  preponderance  of  nations  has 
disseminated  other  forms  of  faith  and  worship,  which  have 
never  owed  their  prevalence  to  argument  and  conviction. 
A  great  facilitj'  of  change  in  religions  has  sometimes  shown 
itself  in  the  revolutions  of  states.  Christianity  is  not  an 
extei'nal  dress  that  can  thus  be  put  on  or  put  off.  It 
meets  a  barrier  of  resistance  in  the  human  soul  strong  as 
that  which  bounds  the  sea.  Each  of  its  doctrines  is  un- 
palatable :  all  of  its  precepts  are  too  rigid ;  and  its  great 
central  truth  is  "foolishness:"  so  astounding,that  the  mind 
cannot  receive  it;  and  so  sanctifying  that  the  corrupt  soul 
rejects  it.  A  religion  revealing  things  so  strange  respecting 
God,  and  requiring  of  men  things  so  impracticable,  will 
never  extend;  unless  based  on  impregnable  truth  and  right. 
Let  GamalieFs  rule  be  applied,  and  a  better  cannot  be  sug- 
gested: "'If  this  thing  be  of  God  ye  cannot  overthrow  it." 
Its  claims  have  survived  the  severest  scrutiny,  and  it  has 
lived  down  every  enemy. 

The  Jewish  nation  set  itself  against  it,  and  it  withered 
away  like  the  barren  fig-tree,  dried  up  to  the  very  roots. 
The  fourth  beast  of  Daniel,  "diverse  from  all  others,  with 
claws  of  brass  and  teeth  of  iron,  tearing  the  pre,y  and 
stamping  the  residue  with  its  feet,"  placed  itself  in  deter- 
mined hostilitj^  to  Christ;  and  its  power  was  broken,  and 
its  ten  fragments  are  scattered  over  Europe, 

The  ecclesiastical  beast,  its  successor  in  the  persecution  of 
Christianity,  that  '"looked  like  a  lamb  and  spake  as  a 
dragon,"  still  sits  upon  the  seven  hills;  but  its  day  is  evi- 
dently coming.  One  more  vial  remains  to  be  poured  out 
to  introduce  the  end. 

Alone  of  all  religions  appealing  to  reason  and  fact,  (Jhristi- 
Sbuity  has  met  the  stoutest  intellectual  resistance.  Not  only 
has  the  enemy  endeavored  to  burn  it  out ;  but  to  write  it 
down;  ridicule  it  out  of  society;   to  find  weapons  against 


12  SKETCHES  FROM   THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

it  in  every  natural  science ;  but  his  efforts  have  ever  failed. 
It  has  steadily  progressed.  If  God  has  permitted  the  Roman 
apostate  to  dam  up  the  waters  of  healing  for  1260  years ; 
it  has  been  that  their  foi'ce  may  be  collected ;  and  that,  when 
the  barrier  at  length  gives  way,  they  may  at  once  over- 
spread the  world.  Its  enemies,  intent  on  its  destruction, 
like  the  Jewish  priests  who  watched  the  sepulchre  of  the 
great  Redeemer,  have  not  only  been ;  but  will  continue  to 
be  the  unwilling  instruments  of  extending  the  knowledge  of 
it,  and  increasing  its  glory. 

Time,  then,  has  set  its  seal.  Gamaliel,  who  saw  it  in  its 
gloomiest  struggles,  and  felt  how  unlikely  it  was  to  live 
and  prevail,  is,  by  his  own  prescribed  rule,  convinced  that 
it  is  of.  God.  It  conquered  in  Jerusalem,  which  was  a  greater 
achievement  than  the  subsequent  change  in  the  empire 
from  heathen  to  Christian. 

Let  the  world  overlook  Jesus  and  undervalue  his  work : 
his  coming  renders  this  earth  more  famous  than  all  else 
that  ever  transpired  upon  it.  An  importance  attaches  to 
him  beyond  our  power  to  express  or  conceive.  Veiled  as 
his  glory  is  by  poverty,  reproach  and  suffering;  if  the  ex- 
pectation of  four  thousand  years  can  prove  matchless  dig- 
nity ;  if  to  be  the  one  object  to  which  .stands  pointing  every 
miracle  of  time,  and  with  which  is  connected  every  inspired 
message  ever  uttered,  shows  worth;  if,  with  his  blood,  to 
be  able  to  extinguish  quenchless  fires,  cleanse  the  guilty 
conscience,  and  satisfy  inexorable  justice,  demonstrates  ex- 
cellence; then  in  Jesus  Christ  is  glory.  It  may  be  but  a  dim 
twilight  of  the  sun  of  righteousness  that  we  behold  here; 
the  full  blaze  of  his  effulgence  will  foi'ever  enlighten  the 
world  of  ji'lory. 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  13 


CHAPTER    II. 


REASONS  FOR  THE  DELAY  OF  THE  ADVENT, 


Gal.  iv.  4:  But  when  the  fullness  of  time  was  come.  God  sent  forth 
his  son,  made  of  a  woman,  made  under  the  law.  to  redeem  them  that 
were  under  the  law. 

That,  after  the  fall  of  iiiau,  so  long  a  time  should  elapse 
before  the  advent  of  the  promised  Redeemer,  has  ever  been 
a  matter  of  the  gravest  astonishment  to  all  inquirers.  At 
least  four  thousand  years,  or.  according  to  the  Septuagint, 
five  thousand  years,  of  ignorance,  crime  and  ruin  dragged 
their  slow  length  along  a  track  of  blood  and  butchery,  pol- 
lution and  lust,  before  the  arrival  of  the  long  looked  for 
Savior.  Kingdoms  rose,  and  flourished,  and  fell;  mighty 
empires  ruled  like  wild  beasts  let  loose  for  carnage,  and 
sunk  at  last  exhausted  from  internal  deca3^  giving  way  to 
other  powers  still  more  terrible  than  themselves.  A  mid- 
night intellectual  darkness  prevailed ;  and  in  vain  reason 
inquired,  and  philosoph}'  dogmatized.  No  condition  can  be 
conceived  more  sad  than  that  of  the  human  race  left  to  the 
gloom  of  perfect  ignorance  about  the  God  above  them, 
and  the  future  before  them  ;  suffering  under  the  scourge  of 
political  tyranny;  and  exhausting  themselves  in  never- 
ceasing  wars :  for  the  historj^  of  the  ancient  world  is  a  his- 
tory of  war  only.  The  individual  was  worth  just  as  much 
&,s  his  bodily  strength  and  physical  courage  availed ;  and 
thus  was  estimated  only  as  an  animal.  Intellectual  and 
spiritual  life  were  hardly  taken  into  account. 

Often  has  the  heart  of  the  Christian  been  pained  with  the 
inquiry,  why  was  this  unaccountable  delay  in  the  coming 
of  the  promised  deliverer?  Why  were  so  many  generations 
of  men  left  to  descend,  in  unbroken  succession,  down  to  the 
shades  of  everlasting  death?  Shall  the  world  pass  more 
than  half   its  appointed  period  of  continuance  before  the 


14  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

way  of  salvation  becomes  perfectly  revealed  ? — and  a  score  of 
centuries  more,  before  the  tidings  reach  the  entire  population 
of  the  globe?  While  we  eujo^'  the  full-orbed  light  of  divine 
revelation,  conscious  that  we  are  no  better  by  nature  than 
the  ancients,  a  feeling  of  wonder,  and  almost  of  complaint, 
that  the  world  should  so  long  be  left  to  the  darkness  of  hea- 
thenism, canses  us  to  reflect  harshly  upon  the  almighty 
Creator,  whose  love  and  power  are  equall3^  without  limit. 

Can  a  satisfactory  answer  be  found  to  such  inquiries, 
which  unavoidabl}'  arise  in  our  minds?  Can  the  universal 
love  of  God  be  vindicated  from  all  impeachment  in  the  case? 
"But  when  the  fulness  of  time  was  come."  God  is  in  no 
haste  in  carrying  out  his  plans ;  haste  belongs  to  weakness 
and  uncertainty.  But  while  he  waits  for  the  period  "fully'' 
to  arrive,  the  destinies  of  millions  are  being  settled  for 
unending  misery.  While  we  bow  with  hearty  submission 
to  his  arrangement  of  all  things,  can  relief  be  found  at  all 
from  the  difficulties  of  the  situation? 

1.  Christ  came  as  soon  as  idolatry  had  lost  its  hold  upon 
any  considerable  portion  of  mankind.  This  is  the  sin  of 
sins ;  as  it  strikes  most  directly  at  the  glory  of  God ;  denies 
his  supremacy;  and  deprives  him  of  the  worship  which  is 
his  due.  Atheism  and  idolatry  make  their  attack  upon  the 
very  throne  of  the  Great  Creator,  and  refuse  an  acknowl- 
edgment of  his  most  sacred  rights ;  but  atheism  is  not  con- 
genial to  the  feelings  of  humanity:  and  has  nothing  with 
which  to  captivate  the  imagination,  and  inflame  the  passions 
of  the  soul.  Idolatrr^  on  the  other  hand,  satisfies  the 
craving  for  something  to  worship;  excites  the  imagination 
to  the  highest  degree:  entrenches  itself  in  the  superstitions: 
and  takes  a  hold  upon  the  heart  not  to  be  broken  by  argu- 
ment, or  demonstration,  even.  It  is  an  assault  upon  the 
dearest  prerogatives  of  Jehovah,  and  aims  its  blow  at  the 
very  vitals  of  divinity.  It  is  a  sin  of  which  devils  are  not 
guilty,  as  they  believe  and  tremble;  but  it  roots  deep  in 
the  corrupt  nature  of  man,  until  "they  become  mad  upon 
their  idols;"  and  refuse  to  receive  correction. 

Its  malignity  is  directed  against  God,  and  against  God 
alone.  Therefore,  the  second  and  most  fearful  command  of 
the  decalogue  is  uttered  against  idolatry:   "Thou  shalt  not 


HISTORICAL   AND    DOCTRINAL.  15 

make  unto  thee  a,ii\-  oraven  image,  nor  any  likeness  of  any 
thing  that  is  in  the  heavens  above,  nor  in  the  earth  beneath, 
nor  in  the  waters  under  the  earth.  Thou  shalt  not  bow 
down  thyself  to  them,  nor  worship  them;  foi- 1,  the  Lord, 
thy  God,  am  a  jealous  God,  visiting-  the  iniquities  of  the 
fathers  upon  the  children  to  the  third  and  fourth  generation 
of  them  that  hate  me.'' 

Idolatry  springs  from  a  hatred  of  the  true  God :  and  for 
it  God  will  visit,  not  the  punishment,  but  the  ini(]uities  of 
the  fathers  upon  the  children.  His  heaviest  judgment  is 
divine  desertion  and  abandonment  to  the  full  power  of  evil. 
In  no  other  way  can  he  express  his  unutterable  abhorrence 
of  idolitry.  For  it  he  will  forsake  a  nation,  till  whole  2'en- 
erations  go  down  in  unbroken  column  to  the  pit;  neither 
will  he  turn  from  the  fierceness  of  his  anger :  till  the  hearts 
of  the  people  are  tui-ned  from  their  sin.  In  every  genera- 
tion -'it  has  repented  the  Lord  that  he  had  made  man  on 
the  earth;  and  it  has  grieved  him  at  his  heart;"  but  it  has 
made  no  change  in  his  administration.  His  name  is 
"Jealous,"  and  no  word  could  more  forcibly  express  the 
keenness  of  his  scrutiny,  and  the  determined  vengeance  of 
his  retribution.  In  the  days  of  the  pi-ophets,  argument, 
ridicule  and  reason  were  used  in  vain  against  this  sin.  All 
that  could  be  done  was  to  testify  against  it.  and  leave  the 
evil  to  coiTect  itself. 

After  ages  of  the  worship  of  false  gods,  this  was  accom- 
plished: the  evil  did  correct  itself:  and  in  this  wise.  The 
very  excess  of  superstition  became  its  own  antidote.  The 
Roman  senate  adopted  the  gods  of  all  the  conquered 
nations,  and  installed  them  in  their  own  pantheon,  as 
lawful  objects  of  worship.  They  thus  collected  a  host  of 
divinities,  contrary  in  their  characters,  opposite  in  their 
attributes,  in  in-econcilable  conflict  Avith  each  other :  and  all 
of  them  proper  objects  of  worship.  The  vote  of  the  Roman 
senate  was  all  that  was  needed  to  make  a  new  god ;  and 
into  the  number  they  proceeded  to  introduce  mere  mortal 
men ;  and  some  of  the  basest  of  men  and  most  infamous  of 
women  became  gods  and  goddesses;  and  received  divine 
worship  at  the  majority  vote  of  a  few  fallible  men. 


1(3  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

At  the  period  of  the  advent,  rehoion  had  degenerated 
into  the  worship  of  the  reignino-  eniperor,  mainly.  Indeed, 
all  the  members  of  the  imperial  family  were  deified ;  some 
of  them  whom,  living,  the  world  could  not  endure.  At  the 
time  of  the  appearance  of  Christ,  idolatry  had  run  itself 
out,  was  played  out,  as  is  said  in  the  west;  it  was  suffer- 
ing a  reductio  ad  absurdum;  its  strength  was  broken,  and 
there  was  a  decided  and  prevailing  reaction  toward  mono- 
theism among  the  philosophers  and  the  people  also. 
Idolatry  had  begun  to  destroy  itself;  and  the  great  heart 
of  humanity  was  yearning  after  the  true  and  living  God; 
and  this  was  the  proper  time  for  his  interposition. 

As  soon  as  "men  returned  and  inquired  earlj-  after  God," 
he  was  to  be  found  of  them.  He  meets  the  cravings  of  his 
children  whenever  a  sincere  and  honest  desire  for  him  springs 
up  within  them. 

We  have  an  illustration  in  point  in  the  histoid'  of  modern 
missions.  When  Christians  in  America  were  moved  to  send 
missionaries  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  the  event  proved  that 
God's  hand  was  in  the  measure.  The  great  king  of  the 
islands,  Kamehameha  I.,  had  died;  and  the  inhabitants  of 
all  the  islands,  without  incitement  from  abroad,  of  their 
own  motion,  agreed  to  have  no  more  idols  and  idol 
worship,  which  had  been  usually  attended  with  human 
sacrifices.  A  strong  reaction  had  set  in  from  the  excessive 
and  cruel  idolatrj^  of  the  reign  just  ended.  Accordingly  a 
large  assembly  convened,  and  solemuW  broke  down  the  im- 
ages hitherto  held  Jiuviolably  sacred ;  and  by  vote  aban- 
doned idolatry. 

God  had  prepared  messengers  of  his  own  truth  who  were 
already  on  their  way,  when  this  spontaneous  reformation 
occurred:  and  the  missionaries  soon  arriving  were  filled 
witli  unbounded  astonishment  to  find  the  islanders  no 
longer  cruel  idolaters;  but  in  a  posture  of  mind  somewhat 
prepared  for  the  reception  of  the  gospel.  This  case  is 
nearly  enough  parallel  to  show,  that  the  abandonment  of 
idolatry-  is  met  at  once  with  the  favor  of  heaven,  and  the 
speedy  revelation  of  saving  truth  to  the  former  devotees 
of  error.  The  result  in  the  islands,  after  some  years  of  la- 
bor and  enlightment,   was  a  revival  of  more  Pentecostal 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  17 

power,  than  has  been  seen  an^-  where  on  earth  probably 
for  eighteen  centuries.  So  it  was  when  Christ  came;  idolatry 
had  proved  its  own  emptiness  and  insufficiency. 

The  Jews  scattered  abroad  everywhere  bore  their  con- 
tinual testimony  to  the  one  only  living  and  true  God;  and 
the  yearning  heart  of  the  world  was  listening  with  an 
abandonment  of  former  absurdities,  and  an  earnest  long- 
ing for  a  divine  reality.  The  world  was  in  the  posture  of 
attention;  the  heavens,  heretofore  closed  against  all  ap- 
peals of  sinful  mortals,  opened  at  last  to  send  down  the 
long  expected  deliverer.  God's  honor  forbade  his  being 
sent  at  any  time  previous.  While  the  angel  announced  his 
birth  to  the  Jews,  the  miraculous  star  proclaimed  it  to  all 
the  world.  During  all  this  time  God  loved  the  world  with 
a  love  incapable  of  increase;  he  felt  as  intense  pity,  as 
tender  mercy;  but  for  his  own  name's  sake,  waited  until 
men  were  turning  away  from  the  husks,  and,  remembering 
that  they  had  a  Father,  were  longing  for  the  bread  of  his 
house. 

The  infatuation  of  idolatry-  is  more  complete  than  any 
other  delusion  ever  exp3rienced,  and  requires  ages  to  dis- 
solve it;  but  the  darkness  was  slowly  yielding.  The  es- 
trangement of  the  human  soul  from  God  is  more  deter- 
mined, lasting  and  obstinate  than  any  other  alienation 
possible  to  man.  It  resists  longer,  requires  more  continued 
•pressure,  ;ind  yields  only  when  the  alternative  is  utter  ruin 
and  destruction.  Idolatry  had  been  followed  to  the  bitter 
end,  and  proved  to  be  absurdity  itself ;  and  to  have  no  soul- 
satisfying  good  to  communicate.  Only  experience  of  its 
emptiness  could  teach. 

2.  Philosophy  was  willing  to  acknowledge  its  ignorance 
and  ask  for  light.  The  principal  characteristic  of  the  an- 
cient philosophy  was  pride  and  self-assertion ;  its  reasoning 
was  altogether  a  priori.  Instead  of  sitting  humbly  at  the 
feet  of  nature,  and  inquiring  as  a  jjerfectly  ignorant  learner; 
she  assumed  the  airs  of  consummate  wisdom,  and  was  ready 
to  dictate  and  dogmatize  rather  than  be  instructed.  Her 
inquiries  of  course  were  altogether  fruitless;  and  served 
only  to  plunge  her  followers  into  still  deeper  darkness. 
Like  the  Pythian  priestess,  intoxicated  by  the  fumes  of  the 


18  SKETCHES    FKOM   THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

cavern  iu  the  temple  of  Delphi ;  her  oracles  were  only 
o-uesses,  and  her  inspiration  came  from  below.  Ihidless 
discnssion  had  been  made  respecting:  the  origin  of  all  things^ 
the  end  for  which  man  existed,  the  summnm  bonum,  and 
the  future  life,  if  immortality  there  were.  Discussion  set- 
tled nothing;  it  only  made  the  darkness  palpable. 

As  the  case  stands,  either  matter  is  eternal,  and  the 
world  has  always  existed  in  something  like  its  present 
form ;  or  there  is  an  intelligent  creator.  A  fortuitous  con- 
course of  atoms,  occurring  at  any  period  to  form  the  pres- 
ent world  with  its  occupants,  without  an  intelligent  direc- 
tor to  commence  and  su])ervise  the  process,  is  unthinkable: 
and  is  much  like  the  evolution  of"  the  present  day  without 
an  operator.  There  is  but  one  alternative,  really:  there  is 
an  outside  creatoi-  and  president ;  or  the  world  is  eternal. 
The  idea  of  such  a  being  was  too  mighty-  a  conception  to 
be  admitted:  and  being  destitute  of  this  truth,  w^hich  is 
the  premise  of  all  reasoning,  the  discussion  of  the  wise  men 
ended  in  determining  absolutely  nothing. 

Indeed,  it  seems  to  be  tr-ue  that  when  Christ  came,  there 
was  no  fixed  or  influential  belief  even  in  the  immortality 
of  the  soul ;  to  say  nothing  of  the  existence  of  a  spiritual, 
intelligent  creator,  prevailing  in  the  world.  The  Jews,  dis- 
persed to  all  countries  under  heaven,  gave  their  continuous 
testimony  on  all  these  subjects;  and  many  an  aching  Gen- 
tile heart  consorted  with  them,  hke  Lydia,  the  widow  of. 
the  book  of  Acts,  who  was  drawn  to  the  Jewish  house  of 
prayer  by  the  riv*J  side,  where  she  went  for  comfort  in 
listening  to  those  who  prayed  to  the  one  living  and  true 
God.  Philosoi)hy  even  turned  her  ear  to  catch  the  Jewish 
teachings;  and  we  are,  beyond  measure,  astonished  in  read- 
ing Plato's  disquisitions  about  God  and  his  three-fold  per- 
sonality. His  mention  of  the  three  elements  [goodness, 
intelligence  and  soul]   as  persons,  thrills  us  with   wonder. 

At  the  same  time,  we  are.  not  astonished  that  a  great 
mass  resigned  themselves  to  stoicism,  which  is  nothing  but 
stony-hearted  Fatalism:  submitting  to  receive  whatever 
might  ha])peu  to  them  without  murmui'iug  and  without 
feeling.  Stoicism  turns  the  heart  to  rock,  making  it  in<'a- 
pable  of  any  tender  feeling  towai'd   God.  and  hardening  it 


HISTORICAL    AM)    DOCTRINAL.  19 

ao-ainst  all  the  sufferm^'s  of  this  life.  It  is  not  astonishing 
that,  in  the  Roman  world,  stoicism  should  have  many  fol- 
lowers; consonant  as  it  is  to  the  sturdy,  harsh  and  cruel 
Roman  charactei". 

In  all  this  mental  movement  there  was  a  progress  toward 
monotheism;  and  the  idea  of  an  intelligent  (Creator  was 
becoming  more  easy  of  acceptance.  Polytheism  forbids  and 
destroys  the  conception  of  a.  Creator  altogether.  The  world 
was  "feeling  after  God,  if  haply  they  might  find  him." 
The  voice  of  humanity  was  uttered  by  the  woman  of  Sa- 
maria, when  she  said  :  "We  know  that  Messias  cometh,  who 
is  called  Christ :  when  he  is  come  he  will  tell  us  all  things." 
We  have  listened  too  eagerly  to  the  siren  voice  of  philoso- 
phy; it  has  no  revelations  to  make;  the  philosopher  knows 
no  more  than  the  peasant. 

When  the  photographer's  plate  is  taken  by  him  out  of 
the  camera,  where  the  light  of  the  sun  has  impressed  it, 
nothing  absolutely  can  be  seen  upon  its  surface.  It  is  hur. 
ried  into  a  darkened  room  ;  and  after  the  developing  mixture 
has  been  poured  upon  it,  an  image  begins  gradually  to  ap- 
pear, and  becomes  every  moment  more  and  more  distinct. 
So,  the  mind  of  humanity  was  beginning  to  show  anew  the 
obliterated  image  of  (lod. 

The  belief  in  one  living  and  true  God  is  a  prime  necessity, 
without  which  we  cannot  entertain  belief  in  a  creation, 
a  providence,  or  even  in  a  future  immortality.  \o  human 
eye  was  strong  enough  to  pierce  the  tremendous  gloom 
that  hung  around  the  grave;  and  while  there  was  felt  a 
sad  foreboding  of  the  dread  future,  of  which  no  man  can 
divest  himself,  yet  certainty'  did  not  seem  attainable. 

Philosophy  was  no  longer  regarded  as  a  reliable  teacher. 
All  the  interests  of  the  world  and  of  time  dwarf  into  insig- 
nificance when  compared  with  these  questions  of  dire  im- 
port: and  long  waiting  began  to  intensify  the  longing  after 
sure  knowledge.  The  world,  sensible  at  length  of  its  igno- 
rance, was  ready  to  hear  the  voice  from  heaven;  and  even 
philosophy  bowed  its  ear  to  listen.  It  recalled  the  tradi- 
tions, that  were  still  preserved  in  the  midst  of  heathenism, 
of  a  coming  one,  who  was  to  overcome  the  serpent,  restore 
our  lost  inheritance,  and  introduce  the  golden  age.    In  the 


20  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

eighth  eclogue  of  Virgil  liiimanity  is  heard  sighing  for  re- 
lief, and  reviving  the  memory  of  long-slumbering  hopes, 
built  on  the  faint  remembrance  of  the  almost  forgotten 
prophecies  of  Eden. 

It  is  matter  of  astonishment  how  long  it  takes  to  awa- 
ken desires  after  God,  and  how  great  and  multiplied  afflic- 
tions and  grief  are  necessary  to  soften  and  tender  the 
heart ;  but  the  pi'ocess  was  being  conducted  by  one  to  whom 
nothing  is  impossible. 

3.  The  oppression  of  the  civil  power  had  reached  its 
climax.  The  dominion  of  Rome  was  endured,  because  it 
could  not  be  resisted.  In  the  counsels  of  the  skies  it  was 
necessary  that  such  a  power  as  the  Roman,  so  stern,  so 
merciless,  yet  a  power  of  law  and  justice  and  order,  should 
get  the  undisputed  ascendency,  and  realize  as  nearly  as 
possible  universal  empire.  At  the  time  of  the  advent, 
Rome  was  mistress  of  the  known  world :  and  her  irresist- 
ible legions  held  the  nations  at  peace.  Vain  were  all  leagues 
and  coalitions  formed  against  her,  and  she  dictated  terms 
according  to  her  pleasure  to  the  peoples  of  far  off  coun- 
tries, as  well  as  those  near.  Her  rule  was  indeed  a  rule  of 
iron. 

As  Daniel  saw  the  four  beasts  in  his  vision  of  the  empires 
of  the  earth,  the  feet  of  the  first  were  as  the  feet  of  a  man, 
so  mild  was  its  dominion.  An  acknowledgment  of  its 
su])remacy,  and  a  light  tribute  was  all  that  was  re- 
quired of  a  subject  nation.  But  the  fourth  beast  had 
claws  of  brass  and  ,jeeth  of  iron;  it  tore  and  divided  and 
reconstructed  at  its  will.  Herod's  kingdom  was  torn  into 
four  tetrarchies,  with  little  regard  to  the  affinities  and  re- 
lations of  the  inhabitants:  and  in  like  manner  throughout 
tlie  world,  limits  were  defined,  boundaries  adjusted  and 
provinces  arranged  to  suit  the  convenience  of  Roman  gov- 
ernors. No  tie  of  kindred,  descent,  nor  community  of 
language  was  considered,  so  much  as  the  ease  of  military- 
approach,  and  accessibility  from  the  imperial  city. 

Division  was  the  order  of  the  time;  and  then  the  Roman 
monster  ''stamped  the  residue  with  his  feet;"  as  good 
a  description  in  brief  as  could  be  given.  Judea,  ex- 
hausted 1)V  the  cruel  government  of  Herod,  craved  to  be 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  21 

made  a  Roman  province ;  only  to  learn  tliat  the  little  fing-ei- 
of  Rome  was  thicker  than  Herod's  loins.  The  taxation  im- 
posed was  bejond  anything  known  in  modern  times, 
amounting  to  from  ten  to  twenty  per  cent,  of  net  income. 
And  then  the  method  of  collection,  the  same  practiced  by 
the  Turkish  government  at  the  present  da3',  was  such  that 
the  government  was  sure  of  obtaining  all  it  claimed,  while 
the  collecting  officers  had  all  possible  opportunity  of  extor- 
tion. The  fortunes  with  which  procurators  and  proconsuls 
returned  from  the  provinces  exceeded  computation  almost ; 
and  showed  that  the  life  blood  of  subject  kingdoms  had 
been  coined  to  fill  the  coffers  of  favorites  of  the  emperor 
or  of  the  senate. 

Lender  this  stern  rule,  however,  the  nations  were  in  per- 
fect peace:  the  sword  was  rusting  in  its  scabbard,  and  hel- 
met and  spear  and  shield  were  for  show  and  not  for  use,  dur- 
ing the  life  of  the  prince  of  peace.  The  sea,  out  of  which 
the  great  Ijeasts  had  arisen,  representing  the  seething, 
agitated  humanity,  ceased  its  raging;  the  fierce  winds  of 
war  were  hushed :  and  the  sceptre  of  iron  waved  over  a 
prostrate  world. 

While  the  dominion  of  Rome  so  oppressed  the  nations ; 
it  yet  unified  the  world,  and  harmonized  it  into  the  sem- 
blance of  one  family.  The  remains  of  international  roads 
and  bridges  existing  to  the  present  day,  show  that  great 
and  constant  intercourse  was  taking  place  between  widely 
separated  provinces.  As  to  the  topmost  and  most  distant 
leaf  of  a  tree,  there  is  a  direct  capillary  connection  with 
the  deeply  hidden  root  from  which  it  derives  its  life;  so 
each  spot  of  earth  took  direction  from  Rome.  Its  rulers 
were  men  of  great  ideas :  and  gave  themselves  to  the  affairs 
of  the  wide  world. 

When  we  further  consider  that  there  was,  as  it  were,  one 
universal  language,  superseding  by  its  copiousness  and 
fulness  all  others, — the  language  of  literature,  of  cultiva- 
tion, of  the  arts,  and  of  trade  and  commerce. — we  easily 
see  that  the  Avhole  world  had  almost  become  one  family; 
and  that  the  vibrations  of  each  stirring  event  made  them- 
selves felt  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  This  state  of  things  came 
about  in  the  all-wise  arrangements  of  heaven,  preparatory 


22  SKETCHES   FROM    THE   LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

to  the  g-reat  event  of  time,  the  birth  of  the  child,  the  giv- 
ing of  the  son,  who  should  be  called  ''The  Wonderful.'' 

It  was  in  the  fulness  of  time;  the  world  was  fully  ripe 
for  the  event.  The  clock  of  destiny  had  struck  the  hour: 
God  is  in  no  haste  about  his  special  operations.  It  was 
not  proper  to  send  him  forth  a  mature  man  like  Adam  in 
the  day  of  his  creation;  but  he  "was  made  of  a  woman:" 
of  the  flesh  and  blood  of  the  Virgin  Mary;  that  "he  might 
be  in  all  points  like  his  brethren.''  He  passed  through  all 
the  stages  of  human  life  fi-om  the  cradle  to  the  grave.  He 
felt  the  infirmities  and  temptations  of  every  period.  He 
sounded  the  depths  of  human  experience. 

His  brethren,  /'.  e.,  his  relatives  who  had  been  brought 
up  with  him,  knew  that  he  was  a  man  like  themselves,  and 
thought  for  a  long  time  that  he  was  nothing  more, — beauti- 
ful, gifted  and  peculiar  indeed,  but  still  a  man,  so  perfectly 
conformed  was  he  to  our  humanity.  His  fellow-townsmen 
had  observed  him  for  thirtj^vears ;  and  they  knew  that  he 
was  a  man;  and  thought  that  he  w^as  only  a  man,  blessed 
with  the  highest  endowments.  And  such  he  was  in  all  re- 
spects, sin  excepted.  His  enemies  charged:  "thou  being  a 
man,  makest  thyself  Ciod."  All  saw  that  he  was  really  and 
truly  man ;  and  there  is  in  this  profound  mystry  a  spring 
of  comfort  evei"  fresh  and  ever  new. 

"He  was  made  under  the  law,"  i.  e.,  subject  to  the  con- 
demnation of  the  law;  "in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh,"  one 
of  the  guilty  race;  "that  he  might  redeem  them  that  were 
under  the  condemnation  of  the  law."  To  redeem  means  to 
buy  them  out  from'  that  condemnation,  which  he  did  b}^ 
giving  his  own  life  and  soul  a  substitute  for  theirs,  and  an 
equivalent  for  their  deliverence.  He  paid  the  whole  debt; 
God  exacted  the  uttermost  farthing;  and  no  deduction  was 
made  from  the  penalty  in  consideration  of  the  eminence 
and  ])urity  and  holiness  of  the  sufferer.  The  law  obtained 
its  full  demands,  and  was  honored,  when  he.  who  is  above 
all  law,  became  subject  to  it :  audit  was  "magnified"  when 
he  yielded  liis  soul  an  offering  for  sin. 


HISTOiaCAf.    AXD   DOCTRrNAr..  23 


CHAPTKK   III. 


THE    BIRTH    OF   JESUS. 


'•The  fulness  of  time''  was  at  hand.  A  fulness  of  demon- 
stration had  been  made  that  no  remedy  could  be  found  for 
the  disorders  and  miseries  of  humanity.  The  tendency  of 
society  was  ever  towards  a  corruption,  whose  progress 
finally  dissolved  the  most  firmly  cemented  states.  Civili- 
zation and  philosophy  had  exhausted  their  force  in  a  vain 
attempt  to  arrest  the  downward  current.  -Thou  hast  no 
healing  medicines.*" 

The  weary  world  was  recalling  the  ancient  traditions  of 
the  race,  and  looking  with  eager  eyes  for  some  disclosure 
from  above,  which  should  afford  a  firm  basis  for  behef,  and 
a,  sure  ground  of  hope  for  the  impenetrable,  frowning  future 
after  the  present  life. 

Other  worlds  than  ours  were  also  in  the  posture  of  keen 
ex])ectation.  The  eternal  principles  of  the  divine  government 
needed  elucidation.  A  bari-ier  needed  to  be  erected  against 
the  further  progress  of  evil,  which  had  already  contami- 
nated two  races  of  beings,  and  was  threatening  a  farther 
advance. 

God  makes  his  beginning  of  the  work  of  recovery  in  the 
most  obscure  corner  of  the  Holy  Land,  and  in  a  family  re- 
duced to  the  lowest  straits.  The  heir  of  a  once  illustrious 
name  was  toiling  for  a  precarious  hving  in  the  remote  city 
of  Nazareth.  The  prestige  of  the  family  was  gone:  and  it 
had  no  inheritance  except  the  hope  of  a  future  deliverer, 
who  was,  according  to  prophecy,  to  arise  like  a  little  stem 
out  of  the  root  of  its  decayed  stump.  Joseph  was  an  hum- 
ble artisan  and  a  righteous  man;  and  had  espoused  to 
himself  an  estimable  virgin  of  the  same  blood  with  himself, 
the  two  representing  the  separate  lines  of  descent  from  the 
Shepherd  King. 


24  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

WheD  the  angel  Gabriel,  six  months  after  his  message  to 
Zacharias  in  the  temple,  announced  to  the  Virgin  Mary 
her  coming  matei-nitv,  and  the  birth  of  the  promised  seed 
from  herself,  it  was  the  most  astounding  news  that  could 
be  communicated :  agreeing,  however,  with  the  vision  of 
Zacharias,  of  which  she  and  all  of  the  nation  were  cogni- 
zant. As  her  thoughts  reverted  at  once  to  this  previous 
heavenly  visitation;  the  angel  gave  her  h  sign  by  which  she 
might  know  that  his  words  would  be  fulfilled  in  their  season. 
This  sign  was  the  condition  in  which  she  should  find  her 
cousin  Elizabeth,  well  stricken  in  age  like  Sara,  Abraham's 
wife,  far  be3^ond  such  a  possibihty ;  yet  advanced  six 
months  in  a  state  of  pregnancy.  This  Mary  hasted  to  verify^ 
not  in  order  to  determine  her  faith,  but  to  strengthen  it. 

Some  one  of  the  great  annual  feasts  was  at  hand,  proba- 
bly the  Feast  of  the  Dedication,  in  the  tenth  month,  when 
the  whole  country  would  be  in  motion ;  and  she  could  join 
a  caravan  to  Jerusalem ;  and  at  the  termination  of  the 
feast,  accompany  the  old  priest  Zacharias,  with  another 
caravan,  to  his  home  in  the  hill  country  of  Judea.  The 
Feast  of  Dedication  is  selected ;  because  in  years,  when  the 
Pentecost,  a  movable  feast,  occurred  late;  exactly  six 
months  would  reach  to  the  Feast  of  Dedication,  which 
would  be  held  three  months  before  an  early  passover;  and 
these  would  be  the  three  months  of  winter,  a  convenient 
time  for  a  protracted  visit. 

if  this  supposition  should  prove  correct,  the  birth  of 
John  occurred  shortly  after  a  passover,  and  the  birth  of 
Jesus  in  the  early  days  of  September.  Indeed,  it  is  neces- 
sar3^  whollj^  to  repudiate  the  twenty-fifth  of  December  as 
the  day  of  the  nativity.  A  natural  reason  always  existed 
for  the  observance  of  that  day.  It  is  the  oldest  holiday  of 
the  woi-ld,  established  as  such  by  the  sun-worshipping  na- 
tions of  antiquity,  -to  whom  it  was  the  chief  festival  of  the 
year.  Cortcz  was  amazed  to  find  it  observed  by  the  Aztecs 
of  Mexico,  who  were  sun-worshippers.  It  celebrates  the  re- 
turn of  the  sun  from  its  southern  progress,  being  the  first 
day  on  which  it  perceptibly  returns  towards  the  north  ;  and 
so,  the  first  day  that  lengthens.  Unacquainted,  as  the  an- 
cient world  was,  with  the  causes  of  the  sun's  apparent  mo- 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  25 

tion,  its  return  was  hailed  with  tlie  hio-he.st  joy,  as  assuring 
another  succession  of  seasons.  The  Pope  has  evidently 
attempted  to  wrest  the  day  from  a  pagan  and  idolatrous 
celebration :  and  consecrate  it  to  the  memory  of  the  great 
fact  in  the  Christian  history.  Of  course  he  is  no  authority 
in  matters  of  chronology. 

The  faith  of  Mary  must  have  been  immensely  strength- 
ened on  learning  the  condition  of  Elizabeth,  and  hearing 
the  predicted  character  and  office  of  her  son;  his  birth 
corresponding  exactly  to  that  of  Isaac,  the  child  of  prom- 
ise and  of  laughter.  The  sign  given  by  the  angel  did  es- 
tablish, beyond  the  possibility  of  doubt,  the  fulfillment  of 
his  words  respecting  herself.  Possibly  the  babe  in  the 
womb  of  the  the  aged  matron  gave  its  first  energetic  evi- 
dence of  life  at  the  sound  of  Mary's  voice. 

The  intimacy  of  these  two  holy  women  for  three  months 
was  as  close  as  could  exist  between  mortals,  bound  to- 
gether as  they  were  by  ties  of  kindred,  and  also  associated 
in  the  accomplishment  of  the  greatest  trust  ever  committed 
to  creatures.  With  no  other  could  Mary  hold  unreserved 
intercourse.  These  great  secrets  were  "kept  in  their  hearts, 
and  pondered''  there. 

In  due  time  Mary  returned  to  Nazareth,  through  Jerusa- 
lem, in  the  course  of  one  of  the  great  convocations  of  the 
nation ;  where  she  remained  for  six  mouths ;  until  the  decree 
of  the  master  of  the  Roman  world  called  her  to  Bethlehem, 
the  city  of  her  ancestors,  for  enrolment.  A  better  transla- 
tion of  Jjuke  II :  2,  can  be  suggested,  to  be  made  by  placing 
the  adjective  immediately  before  its  noun  with  which  it  is 
associated.  The  verse  would  then  read:  "this  first  enrol- 
ment was  made  under  Quirinius,  governor  of  Syria,"  im- 
plying a  second,  when  the  tax  was  enforced,  also  under 
the  government  of  the  same  Quirinius.  An  inscription  has 
been  found  in  Rome,  from  the  tomb  of  this  Roman  senator: 
Bis  Syrhv  imperator  auctore  Augusta.  The  birth  of  Jesus 
was  thus  coincident  with  the  first  Roman  census  of  Judea; 
and  his  appearance  as  a  son  of  the  law  at  twelve  years  of 
age,  was  synchronous  with  the  appearance  of  the  first  Ro- 
man procurator  of  Judea;   when  the  sceptre  dropped  from 


26  SKETCHES    FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

the  hands  of  Jewish  administration,  and  the  lawoiver  ceased 
forever  from  between  the  feet  of  Judah. 

As  we  read  in  Josephus  of  the  slauf^hter  of  Bagoas.  it  is 
impossible  to  refrain  from  conneeting  it  with  the  departure 
of  the  magi  from  Judea,  without  communicating  with  Herod. 
In  that  chapter  of  history  we  find  so  many  references  to 
matters  contained  in  Luke's  account, — such  as  a  plain  allu- 
sion to  this  enrolment,  with  which  Herod  had  united  an 
oath  of  loyalty  to  himself;  the  refusal  of  the  ligid  Phari- 
sees to  take  the  required  oath  to  Herod,  as  expecting  the 
speedy  advent  of  their  own  king  Messias;  the  predictions 
fi-eely  made,  that  the  government  of  the  Herods  would  soon 
terminate ;  the  expected  appearance  of  the  looked-for  prince 
of  Israel,  who,  instead  of  being  born  of  a  virgin,  should  be 
begotten  by  a  eunuch;  Herod's  vindictive  jealousy,  leading 
him  to  slaughter  Pharisaic  leaders,  as  well  as  some  of  the 
inmates  of  his  own  palace:  justif3ing  the  remark  of  Luke, 
that  "he  was  troubled,  and  all  Jerusalem  with  him" — as  to 
suggest  that  he  was  writing  of  that  commotion  which  led  to 
the  massacre  of  the  innocents  at  Bethlehem,  the  mention 
of  which  we  might  expect  Josephus  to  avoid. 

If  this  be  so,  Jesus  must  have  been  born  two  or  three 
years  before  the  death  of  Herod,  and  six  or  seven  years 
before  the  A.  1).  This  would  place  the  date  of  the  nativity 
at  the  very  time  of  the  remarkable  planetary  conjunction 
announced  by  Kepler,  whose  recurrence  in  A.  D.  1(503  and 
4  led  him  to  devote  himself  to  the  .study  of  astronomy.  It 
was  then  witnessed,,  ^by  thousands,  crowding  the  streets  of 
Stockholm  night  after  night.  The  same  configuration  of 
stars  graced  the  sky  at  the  time  of  the  birth  of  Moses,  as 
Josephus  relates,  and  led  to  attempts  to  murder  the  child. 
A.ocording  to  Kepler,  this  group  was  not  itself  the  star  of 
Bethlehem ;  but  the  miraculous  star  associated  itself  as  one 
ci  the  cluster,  forming  a  coronet  that  would  attract 
the  gaze  of  the  world.  The  visit  of  the  Eastern  astrologers 
to  Jerusalem,  only  gave  to  the  phenomenon  its  true  and 
designed  interpretation. 

I.  The  first  notable  fact  in  the  gospel  history  is  the  extreme 
poverty  of  the  wedded  pair  from  whom  the  Messiah  was 
to  descend.    And  to  be  i)oor  in  that  age  meant  more  than 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAI..  2< 

it  does  now,  and  in  republican  America :  it  meant  to  be 
down-trodden  and  despised  beyond  any  present  example. 
The  low  condition  to  which  Mary  was  reduced,  seemed  to 
forbid  the  expectation  of  such  remarkable  exaltation.  Her 
song-  of  gratitude  and  joy  expresses  in  varied  forms  hei- 
unqualified  amazement;  that  herself,  so  utterly  sunken  and 
scorned,  should  be  selected  by  the  God  of  Israel  as  the 
highly  favored  among  women,  whom  all  generations  should 
call  blessed.  She  speaks  as  one  who  had  felt  the  sting  of 
the  world's  contempt,  and  experienced  the  slights  so  freel}^ 
bestowed  on  fallen  greatness.  The  lowest  menial  in  King- 
David's  service  had  been  in  easier  circumstances  than  her- 
self; 3'et  the  blood  of  royaltj^  was  in  her  veins ;  and  to  her 
husband,  bj'^  right  of  primogeniture,  belonged  the  fallen 
throne  of  the  monarch,  to  whom  God  had  promised,  that 
he  should  never  lack  an  heir  to  occupy  his  royal  seat: 
and  now  he  could  move  on  an  hour's  notice;  and  b}^  the 
help  of  a  single  animal,  and  on  his  own  sturdy  shoulders, 
could  carry  his  wife  and  child,  household  furniture  and  the 
tools  of  his  trade.  Their  only  heritage  seemed  to  be  the 
pride  of  a  great  name;  the  possession  of  which,  without 
the  means  of  upholding  it,  provokes  neglect  rather  than 
veneration. 

Yet  poor  as  they  were,  angels  ever  hung  around  their 
pathway:  and  before  dangers  could  harm  them,  messengers 
of  safety  fiew  to  give  warning.  The  gold  was  poured  into 
Mary's  lap  just  before  she  needed  it ;  and  it  was  literally- 
true  of  them  that,  having  Christ,  all  things  were  theirs. 
Though  they  hardly  comprehended  the  fact,  they  were  the 
centre  toward  which  the  gaze  of  an  admiring  heaven  was 
turned;  and  with  them  was  the  secret  into  which  "angels 
desire  to  look.'"  These  shining  ones  never  stopped  at  the 
doors  of  palaces;  but  haunted  the  obscure  places  where 
duty  led  this  humble  pair,  whose  wants  were  provided  for 
before  they  were  felt,  and  from  whom  every  blow  was 
warded  before  it  struck 

Could  our  own  piivate  histor^^  be  written  by  the  pen  of 
a  ministering  angel:  it  might  be  as  full  of  heavenly  minis- 
tries, whose  source  and  arrangement  are  unsuspected  by 
us.    The  voung  lions  roar  and  seek  their  meat  from  God : 


28  SKETCHE^l   FROM   THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

he  feeds  the  ravens  when  they  cry ;  and  before  the  shaft 
ain)ed  at  a  sparrow  can  take  effect,  the  decree  must  be 
countersigned  with  the  name  of  the  great  father,  who  per- 
mits the  deed. 

II.  The  place  of  the  nativity  was  not  the  pubhc  inn. 
Some  of  the  missionaries,  seeing  the  rude  accommodations 
of  the  oriental  caravanserai,  seem  to  have  concluded  that 
it  must  have  been  the  place  \vhere  the  memorable  birth 
occurred ;  but  it  was  evidently  some  small  and  miserable 
stable,  which  had  never  before  been  the  lodging  place  for 
human  beings;  where  none  were  beside  themselves,  and  no 
eye  of  man  cared  to  look;  where  the  virgin  received  no 
ministry  of  female  attendance ;' but  after  the  painless 
delivery,  herself  took  all  the  care  of  the  frail  little  babe, 
its  washing,  salting  and  wrapping  in  cloths  previously 
prepared ;  and  was  able  to  arise  from  the  earthen  floor 
and  deposit  her  charge  in  one  of  the  mangers  of  stone, 
after  cleaning  it  of  the  straw  left  by  the  feeding  cattle. 

No  other  babe  was  housed  so  poorly.  This  was  the  sign 
given  by  the  angel  to  the  shepherds:  there  is  but  one  child 
to  be  found  wrapped  in  swaddling  cloths  and  h-ing  in  a 
manger;  and  that  is  the  child  of  pi'omise.  Jehovah  was 
saying:  ''let  all  the  angels  of  God  worship  him:"  but  he 
seemed  too  mean  for  human  homage.  Men  might  have 
turned  from  him  in  haughty  disgust:  troops,  however, 
of  glorious  ones,  who  stand  in  the  sunlight  of  the  eternal 
throne,  were  hovering  about  the  stony  bed ;  as  they  after- 
wards stood  ready  ^o  bear  him  up  in  their  hands,  lest  he 
dash  his  foot  against  a  stone. 

That  the  spot  where  a  vagrant  family  sheltered  for  a  time, 
should  be  identified  after  three  hundred  years  of  oblivion  ; 
especially  after  the  storm  of  war  had  swept  the  works  of 
man  away  with  the  besom  of  destruction,  is  not  likely; 
nor  that  the  stable  should  prove  to  be  a  cave  twenty  feet 
under  ground;  the  most  unlikely  spot  in  the  whole  territory 
of  Bethlehem.  Its  gaudy  marble  floor  is  rather  polluted 
than  hallowed  by  the  kisses  it  has  received.  The  same 
care  which  pi'ovided,  that  the  sepulchre  of  Moses  should 
not  be  known  to  this  day ;  lest  it  become  a  centre  of  idola- 
trous pilgrimage,  has  also  provided,  that  no  trace  or  foot- 


HISTORICAL    AND   DOCTRINAL.  29 

])rint  should  be  left  of  the  mig-hty  visitor,  whose  presence 
here  has  made  this  earth  famous  next  to  heaven  itself. 
There  remains  not  a  foot  of  territory  in  the  whole  holy 
land  of  which  we  can  say.  here  he  once  trod. 

III.  The  manner  of  the  publication  of  this  birth  is  also 
amazino-.  The  little  city  was  at  the  time  filled  to  overflowing 
with  the  oreat  families  of  the  house  of  David,  and  the 
princes  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.  Every  corner  was  occupied 
by  the  very  pride  of  Israel :  but  unto  none  of  these  was 
the  angel,  charged  with  the  proclamation,  sent.  At  a  little 
distance  outside,  the  sheep,  either  belonging  to  the  residenos 
of  the  city  or  designed  for  the  temple  use,  were  watched  by 
hireling  shepherds,  who  are  thus  described  by  one  familiar 
with  them  and  with  the  country. 

"The  shepherd  belongs  to  the  lowest  class  of  the  popula- 
tion. In  his  filth,  no  American  lady  would  admit  him  to 
her  back  kitchen.  His  clothing,  hanging  from  his  shoulders, 
is  coarser  than  a  rag-carpet;  and  his  naked  limbs  and 
fiesh,  seen  through  the  rents  of  his  cloak,  are  of  the  color 
of  a  baconham  or  side  meat.  Everything  we  see  here 
demonstrates  to  us  more  and  more  the  extreme  poverty 
and  humility  of  the  surroundings  of  our  Lord  in  his  life 
upon  the  earth."  Four  of  these  men  herding  their  flocks 
together,  divided  the  watches  of  the  night:  they  were  sleep- 
ing on  the  ground  in  the  open;  the  very  poorest  company 
that  could  be  selected  in  the  neighborhood.  It  is  not 
known  that  they  had  any  recommendation  other  than 
their  low  condition.  The  supposition  that  they  were  of  a 
higher  class  than  ordinary,  or  that  they  were  devout  ex- 
pectants is  but  a  supposition.  They  were  simply  plain, 
honest  rustics,  capable  of  bearing  testiniony. 

They  were  surprised  by  a  sudden  glory  which  awakened 
the  sleepei's,  and  may  have  brought  them  all  to  their  feet; 
when  they  became  conscious  of  the  presence  of  a  visitant 
from  the  spirit  world,  standing  near  them.  The  sight,  of 
course,  filled  them  with  mighty  fear,  which  was  probably 
shown  by  their  retreating  movements  and  terror-stricken 
look.  The  angel  appeared  in  just  the  same  manner  in 
which  Jesus  appeared  to  his  disciples  after  his  resurrection. 
He  was  unexpectedly  standing  at  their  side.    He  was  not 


30  SKETCHES   FROM    THE   LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

suspended  in  the  air  above  their  heads,  but  his  feet  were 
on  the  ground;  and  he  seemed  the  centre  and  orioin  of  the 
supernatural  light. 

Had  all  the  host  that  were  present  Hashed  into  view 
sinniltaneously,  the  sight  had  been  overpowering.  There- 
fore but  one  was  seen;  and  his  splendor  was  subdued,  as 
it  were:  and  he  hastened  to  calm  their  fears,  and  assure 
them  that  his  errand  was  one  of  peace  and  joy  to  them 
and  all  the  people.  His  words  were:  "Fear  not,  for  behold 
I  bring  you  glad  tidings  of  great  joy,  which  shall  be  to  all 
the  people;  for  unto  you  is  born  this  day  in  the  city  of 
David  a  Saviour,  which  is  Christ,  the  Lord.''  No  sooner 
were  the  words  out  of  his  mouth,  than  there  flashed  into 
view  a  gi-eat  host  of  unseen  listeners;  who  may  have  filled 
the  air,  or  rested  on  the  ground,  we  know  not  which ;  but 
a  refrain  of  the  heavenly  song  burst  from  breasts  that 
could  no  longer  restrain  their  joy.  In  Christ  there  is  as 
glorious  a  I'evelation  to  angels  as  to  men. 

Exalted  spirits,  sons  of  light,  had  been  hurled  from  high 
seats  in  glory,  on  the  first  appearance  of  the  taint  of  cor-, 
ruption  upon  them ;  and  themselves  had,  like  Moses,  ex- 
ceedingly feared  and  (]uaked  at  the  thunderings  and  light- 
nings of  the  eternal  throne.  To  them  it  had  seemed 
impossible  that  Jehovah  should  pass  by  iniquity,  transgres- 
sion and  sin.  His  hostility  to  evil  had  shown  itself  fiercer 
than  consuming  fire,  and  unquenchable.  Merc}^  seemed  an 
attribute,  that  could  not  coexist  with  his  fearful  holiness, 
justice  and  truth,  t' 

The  happiness  of  spirits  arises  from  the  soul-humbling 
knowledge  of  God:  "To  know  him  is  eternal  life.'"  The 
revelation  of  his  mercy  opened  to  them  new  discovei'ies  in 
the  divine  nature  more  overwhelming,  more  ravishing  than 
all  the  experiences  of  a  past  eternity.  The  offering  of  him- 
self by  Christ  as  the  Redeemer  of  men,  let  floods  of  light 
into  the  minds  of  seraphim  and  cherubim,  and  sent  deeper 
throbs  of  delight  into  celestial  souls.  How  they  watched 
the  development  of  the  great  plan,  not  dumb  with  awful 
wonder,  but  burning  in  an  ecstasy  of  love  and  joy!  They 
had  never  fathomed  the  depth  of  the  divine  compassion,  or 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  31 

comprehended  the  tenderness  of  its  yearnino-g,  or  received 
the  news,  that  God  is  love. 

These  morning'  stars  had  hailed  the  advent  of  the  new- 
born earth  with  shouts  of  joy,  as  the  future  theatre  of  the 
great  revelation ;  and  had  now  accompanied  the  monarch 
of  the  skies  from  his  throne  of  glory,  to  take  up  his  resi- 
dence in  the  body  of  this  little  babe;  and  make  him  the 
tabei-nacle  of  the  schehinah.  Their  appearance  on  the  i)lains 
of  Bethlehem  stamps  this  birth  as  the  event  of  time.  The 
being,  who  assumed  the  humanity  of  the  child,  came  from 
the  highest  heaven ;  to  which  he  ascended  when  his  work 
was  finished.  This  song  of  angels  is  but  the  prelude  of  an- 
other song  which  will  make  melody  for  the  ears  of  God 
himself,  which  angels  cannot  sing;  but  those  only  who  have 
been  redeemed  b^'^  blood  divine.  In  that  song  all  parts  will 
be  carried,  from  the  finest  infant  treble,  to  the  deep  basso 
of  those  who  have  tasted  the  bitterness  of  miserj'-  and  sin, 
and  wrung  out  their  very  dregs. 

Testimonies  to  this  extraordinary  birth  were  of  the  most 
surprising  nature.  Angel  visits  had,  at  times,  been  vouch- 
safed during  the  former  ages;  but  they  had  been  of  rarely 
more  than  a  single  celestial  messenger;  on  this  occasion 
there  came  a  multitude  of  the  heavenly  host  to  worship  the 
infant  King,  and  proclaim  him.  Epochs  are  spoken  of 
which  should  be  of  sufficient  importance  to  be  attended 
with  "signs  in  the  sun,  and  in  the  moon,  and  in  the  stars." 
Certainly  no  period  more  pregnant  with  great  results  ever 
passed,  than  that  connected  with  the  incarnation  ;  and  none 
so  demanding  the  attention  of  heaven  and  earth.  A  great 
c^^cle  of  the  ages  was  rolling  in.  God  has  inaugurated  all 
such  mighty  cycles  by  a  creation.  (The  first  was  that  of 
the  fish,  followed  by  that  of  the  reptile,  and  by  that  of  the 
fowl,  and  by  that  of  the  quadruped,  and  finally  by  that  of 
man.)  These  cycles  have  been  introduced,  not  by  evolu- 
tions, but  by  creations;  all  proceeding  in  a  gradation 
upward  to  man,  who  is  the  model  toward  which  all 
previous  forms  had  worked.  When  the  new  era  was  intro- 
duced, it  was  ushered  in  by  a  creation.  The  "novus  ordo 
seclorunf  came  in  by  a  creation  in  the  womb  of  a  virgin 
of  the  house  of  David.    Humanity  was  entering  ujjon  a  new 


32  SKETCHES    FROM   THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

stage;  and  the  power  of  the  Hio-hest  was  introducing  a 
new  element  and  preparing-  an  advance.  It  is  his  to  in- 
augurate the  eras.  He  might  have  sent  his  son  equipped 
with  a  human  body  in  the  full  maturity  of  its  powers,  as 
was  Adam ;  but  as  the  soul  is  probably  united  to  its 
fleshly  tabernacle  at  birth  or  before;  so  our  Lord,  in  order 
to  assume  a  rational  soul  as  well  as  a  material  body, 
entered  life  at  the  same  door  with  us  all.  This  course 
seems  to  have  been  required  in  order  that  he  might  become 
a  perfect  man  as  respects  the  soul  as  well  as  the  body,  and 
''be  made  in  all  things  like  unto  his  brethren.'*  Thus  he 
went  through  all  the  weaknesses  and  pains  of  infan(*3'  and 
childhood  and  youth;  and  experienced  all  the  temptations 
incident  to  every  stage  of  life.  It  is  impossible  to  conceive 
of  a  wiser  and  better  way  of  introducing  him  into  the 
race,  and  making  him  one  with  us  in  every  respect ;  indeed 
it  was  the  onlj^  way;  much  as  human  wisdom  may  scoff 
at  it. 

That  he  was  born  in  Bethlehem  was  written  in  blood. 
An  occasion  marked  by  arbitrary  bloodshed  is  not  soon 
forgotten ;  especially  if  it  be  the  wholesale  destruction  of 
unoffending  babes.  By  the  advent  of  the  wise  men,  Jeru- 
salem was  as  well  informed  of  his  presence;  as  it  vvould 
have  been,  had  the  shining  angel  proclaimed  it  in  the  pal- 
ace of  the  old  king;  and  had  there  led  in  the  heavenly  song. 
These  things  must  have  appealed  to  the  irrepressible  long- 
ings and  expectations  of  the  Jewish  people  with  convincing 
])Ower.  The  Asmorjan  famil}'  had  become  extinct,  its  last 
member  having  perished  by  unnatural  violence,  at  the  recital 
of  which  humanity  shudders;  and  the  heart  of  the  nation 
turned  to  the  house  of  David  with  an  eagerness,  intensified 
by  the  odiousness  of  the  tyrann}'  of  the  Edomite. 

The  old  king,  knowing  that  his  days  were  numbered,  ren- 
dered desperate  by  the  hatred  entertained  for  him,  and  fear- 
ful of  some  unforseen  catastrophe,  that  might  follow  his 
decease,  determined  to  destroy  the  child  by  all  means.  But 
"the  heathen  rage  and  peoples  imagine  a  vain  thing'';  when 
"they  take  counsel  together  against  the  Lord  and  his 
anointed.''  "He  that  sitteth  in  the  heavens  shall  laugh  at 
them   and  the  Lord  shall  have  them  in  derision."    At  the 


HISTORICAL  AND   DOCTRINAL.  33 

same  time  all  traces  of  the  infant  of  promise  strangely  disap- 
peared. As  the  city  of  Bethlehem  had  been  at  the  time 
crowded  with  notables;  a  poor  and  vagrant  family  like 
Joseph's  had  not  attracted  so  much  attention.  And  then 
their  stay  was  but  brief;  they  were  gone  in  a  night;  but 
their  record  had  been  left  indelible.  If  expectation  followed 
them  to  Egypt,  they  did  not  tarry  there  long;  and  whither 
they  went,  no  one  could  easily  learn:  the  clue  was  lost. 
Joseph's  determination  to  Nazareth  seems  to  have  been 
taken  on  the  road. 

It  was  safe  that  the  child  should  be  reared  at  a  distance 
from  Jerusalem,  and  among  the  coarse  and  rude  citizens  of 
a  remote  town.  Had  he  been  brought  up  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  capital,  his  experience  at  twelve  years  of 
age  shows  that  he  might  have  attracted  too  great  atten- 
tion; and  that  he  might  have  been  prematurely  identified. 
Nothing  lovelier  ever  appeared  on  eai'th  than  a  genuine 
case  of  infantile  piety;  and  such  perfection  as  shone  in  him 
hke  a  heaven-lighted  glory,  could  not  be  concealed,  where 
there  were  eyes  to  behold.  The  thread  of  history  was  so 
broken;  that  many  may  have  supposed,  that  the  heir  of 
David's  throne  must  have  perished  in  the  massacre  of  the 
innocents.  There  must  still  have  been  those  who  reflected 
that  God's  plans  and  purposes  can  never  be  thwarted,  and 
that  the  child  of  promise  was  somewhere  safe. 

The  words  of  the  prophet  Isaiah  respecting  him  are  re- 
markable: "Unto  us  a  child  is  born;  unto  us  a  son  is 
given;"  he  uses  the  very  phraseology  of  the  angel,  "unto 
you  is  born  this  day  in  the  city  of  David,  a  Saviour."  He 
is  not  so  much  the  property  of  his  parents ;  he  is  humanity's 
child,  the  son  of  the  race.  His  veiy  birth  removes  him 
from  the  scale  of  private  individuals,  and  makes  him  a 
pubhc  character,  belonging  to  no  one  age  or  nation.  He 
is  "the  second  man  from  heaven;"  his  relationship  is  as 
wide  as  Adam's;  and  he  stands  in  a  similar  relation  to  the 
whole  human  family.  He  is  born  to  every  human  being; 
and  born  into  the  souls  of  those,  who  are  prepared  by  faith 
to  receive  him,  upon  the  inward  throne  of  tlieir  affections. 

"Let  the  sea  roar  and  the  fulness  thereof;  the  earth  and 
they  that  dwell  therein;  let  the  floods  clap  their  hands;  and 
—3 


34  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  I^IFE  OF  -lESUS. 

let  the  hills  be  joyful  together  before  the  Lord ;  for  he 
cometh  to  judge  the  earth.""  The  trumpet  of  prophecy  had 
been  sounding  for  four  thousand  years:  '"he  cometh;"*  "he 
cometh;"'  and  a.t  length  the  great  prediction  is  fulfilled. 
Let  an  infidel  world  criticise  and  scoff  at  the  conception 
and  birth  of  Jesus :  an  humble,  devout  mind  will  adore  the 
matchless  wisdom  which  has  devised  a  way,  by  which  an 
infinite  and  sinless  personage  has  been  engrafted  upon  our 
fallen  race,  in  such  a  way  as  to  partake  of  our  nature,  and 
become  one  of  us:  able  to  bear  our  imputed  sin,  and  atone 
for  our  transgressions.  Truly  "the  foolishness  of  God  is 
wiser  than  men:  and  the  weakness  of  God  is  stronger  than 
men;"  "for  of  him,  and  through  him,  and  to  him  are  all 
things;  to  whom  be  glory  forever  and  ever."'    Amen. 


^J 


HISTORICAL   AND  DOCTJflNAL.  85 


CHAPTER  IV. 


JOHN  THE  BAPTIST. 


It  had  been  distinctly  announced  by  the  ancient  prophets, 
that  a  remarkable  forerunner  should  introduce  the  expected 
Messiah.  Isaiah  heard  the  voice  crying  in  the  wilderness: 
"prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord:''  and  Malachi  describes 
him  as  being  his  own  next  successor;  and  as  bein<>-  Elijah 
himself  reproduced.  The  age  of  the  advent,  as  much  apos- 
tatized as  that  of  Ahab,  demanded  a  reformer  possessing 
a  zeal  equal  to  that  of  the  old  prophet;  and  able  single- 
handed  to  withstand  a  nation,  and  make  a  king  tremble 
on  his  throne.  John  filled  the  description  perfectly ;  and 
the  goodness  of  God  wa.s  wonderfully  displayed  in  provid- 
ing for  the  work  to  be  accomplished,  a  man,  who  should 
take  the  heart  of  the  Jewish  nation  by  storm,  as  it  were. 
He  was  their  very  beau  ideal  of  a  prophet;  intensely  Jew- 
ish, and  well  adapted  to  secure  the  confidence,  and  gain  the 
hearts  of  the  people  at  once.  Only  a  trifling  minority  re- 
fused his  baptism;  on  the  ground,  that  Jews  of  pure  and 
uncontaminated  blood  could  not  be  subjected  like  Gentiles 
to  an  ordinance,  which  implied  theii-  need  of  spiritual  puri- 
fication equally  with  the  sinners  and  the  uncircumcised. 

In  the  first  place  John  was  a  Nazarite;  and  the  Nazarites 
were  the  very  cream  of  Judaism.  Their  vow  was  taken 
usually  for  a  specified  term  of  a  month  or  a  year  or  two. 
Occasionally  in  their  history  had  arisen  men,  who  were 
Nazarites  from  birth  and  for  life,  as  Sampson,  Samuel, 
Elijah  and  Laniel,  among  the  mightiest  of  their  heroes  and 
prophets.  John  was  one  of  this  exalted  class,  a  Nazarite 
from  birth,  and  for  life;  and  this  elevated  him  in  the 
estimation  of  the  people,  and  endeared  him  in  their  affec- 
tions, as  a  successor  of  the  ancient  worthies  of  Israel. 

Then  again  asceticism  was  in  high  vogue  in  that  ago; 
the  tendency  of  religious  advance  being  in  that  direction ; 


36  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

and  an  unbounded  veneration  was  felt  for  a  character  of 
this  kind.  God  sent  them  in  John  a  man  after  their  own 
coveted  model,  a  man  who  filled  all  their  predilections,  and 
commanded  their  confidence  at  once. 

And  then  he  was  a  prophet  born;  and  needed  no  creden. 
tials  of  miracles  to  certify  his  appointment  of  God.  No 
occurence  was  ever  more  openh^  advertised  than  his  birth. 
The  highest  ano-el  in  the  skies  announced  it  in  the  temple, 
at  the  time  of  one  of  their  great  annual  feasts.  "The  whole 
multitude  of  the  people  were  praying-  without"  at  the  time. 
This  expression  undoubtedly  designates  a  national  atten- 
dance upon  the  service  in  progress.  The  birth  of  John  was 
an  event  of  the  greatest  national  importance;  and  might 
well  be  proclaimed  to  the  nation  at  its  principal  convoca- 
tion, probably  a  passover  or  a  pentecost.  Angel  communi- 
cation was  the  method  of  revelation  hallowed  in  the  mem- 
ory of  the  Jew,  by  the  most  signal  occurences  in  their  nat- 
ional history ;  and  agreeing  with  all  the  precedents  of  their 
])ast.  The  feast  selected  for  the  announcement  was  prob- 
ably the  Pentecost ;  for  this  supposition  would  fix  the  date 
of  Mary's  three  months"  visit  to  Elizabeth  to  the  winter 
months,  when  traveling  would  be  impracticable  to  a  woman; 
and  she  would  be  compelled  to  remain  with  her  kinswoman. 
And  indeed  we  find  by  computation,  that  the  course  of 
Abia,  to  Which  Zacharias  belonged,  officiated  in  the  middle 
of  June  B.  C.  7:  when  their  term  may  have  covered  the 
week  of  the  Pentecost. 

There  certainly  if^.^a  probability  that  the  appearance  of 
the  miraculous  star' of  Bethlehem  may  have  been  coincident 
with  the  conjunction  of  the  three  largest  planets,  which 
Kepler  found  to  have  taken  place  in  the  years  B.  C.  6  and 
B.  C.  5.  What  suggested  to  him  the  star  of  Bethlehem, 
was,  the  presence  with  these  three  planets,  of  a  fourth 
star,  then  seen  for  the  first  time,  between  Jupiter  and 
Saturn,  a  star  of  extraordinary  brilliancy,  and  of  a  different 
and  peculiar  color.  It  was  the  presence  of  this  temporary, 
evanescent,  companion  star,  that  led  him  to  suggest  for  the 
date  of  the  birth  of  Jesus  the  year  B.  C.  6.  This  rare  phe- 
nomenon of  four  bright  stars  in  close  conjunction  continued 
through    portions    of   two    years,  the  very  length  of  time 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  dT 

which  the  Ma.o-i  named  to  Herod:  being  in  fact  not  quite 
two  years,  though  Herod  in  his  angei-  made  it  two  full 
years. 

The  star  of  Bethlehem  was  an  advertisement  to  the 
world:  the  wise  men  from  the  east  probably  were  of  a  class 
which  made  the  sky  their  particular  study;  and  hence  being- 
familiar  with  the  expectations  of  the  Jews,  who  were  still 
a  numerous  population  in  the  far  east,  interpreted  the  in- 
dications of  the  sky  as  designating  the  immediate  appear- 
ance of  the  expected  King,  whose  arrival  was  even  then 
due. 

Their  coming  to  Jerusalem  fixed  in  the  minds  of  the 
people  the  connection  between  the  wonderful  circlet  in  the 
nocturnal  sky,  and  -'the  child  that  was  born,  the  Son  that 
was  given,  whose  name  was  the  Wonderful."  To  him  nature, 
angels,  and  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy  Ghost  gave  witness. 
On  the  journey  of  those  Magi  from  Jerusalem  to  Bethlehem, 
they  had  no  expectation  of  seeing  the  star,  which  was  now 
a  thing  of  the  past;  their  guide  may  have  been  a  glorious 
angel,  assuming  the  lustre  and  the  color  of  the  well  known 
star,  and  directing  them  to  the  very  house  they  sought. 

The  nation  were  thus  abundantly  notified  of  the  imme- 
diate fulfillment  of  the  ancient  prophecies,  and  so  of  the 
speedy  appearance  of  the  forerunner,  who  should  prepare 
the  way  of  the  Lord  before  him.  His  birth  was  a  miracle, 
like  that  of  the  child  of  laughter,  born  when  Abraham  was 
a  hundred  years  old,  and  Sarah  proportionally  advanced ; 
and  John  might  have  been  greeted  with  a  like  welcome  of 
laughter.  All  the  hill  country  of  Judea  was  stirred  by  the 
event;  and  all  knew  that  the  Lord  had  visited  his  people, 
and  had  raised  up  for  them  a  horn  of  salvation;  and  was 
fulfilling  the  promises  made  to  the  fathers,  the  oath  that 
he  had  sworn  to  Abraham.  No  one  taketh  the  honor  of  a 
prophet  unto  himself,  but  he  that  is  called  of  God ;  none 
ever  had  a  clearer  designation,  or  more  indubitable  cre- 
dentials. 

John  had  a  history  unparalleled  except  in  the  one  case. 
It  was  impossible  to  doubt  the  angelic  annunciation,  for- 
tified as  it  was  by  the  miracle  of  judgment  imposed  upon 
Zacharias  for  his  unbehef,   and  the  further  miracle  of  re- 


38  SKETCHES  FROM   THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

lease  at  tlie  iiainiiio:  of  the  child.  Heaven  called  the  atten- 
tion of  the  nation  to  him,  and  accredited  him.  as  no  other 
was  ever  accredited. 

During  his  youth  and  early  manhood,  John  seems  to  have 
been  a  soHtary  man  to  the  time  of  his  public  appearance. 
Great  themes  occupied  his  attention;  and  a  responsibility 
was  on  him,  that  he  could  not  divide  with  another.  Per- 
haps also  the  unusual  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  have  a 
tendency  to  isolate  a  man.  As  the  stricken  deer  forsakes 
the  herd,  to  langnish  in  the  deepest  recesses  of  the  forest, 
the  prophet,  burdened  with  a  message  from  the  Most  High, 
has  exhaustless  food  for  private  meditation.  Like  Elijah,  he 
was  the  projjhet  of  the  wilderness,  which  was  his  ordinary 
abode:  the  wilderness  hallowed  to  the  Jews  by  all  the 
memories  of  their  wonderful  history.  Like  his  prototype, 
he  had  stood  upon  the  rocky  slopes  of  the  Mount  of  God ; 
and  sheltered  in  its  caverns;  devoting  his  time  to  commu- 
nion with  his  thoughts,  and  the  great  Unseen.  To  such  a 
soul,  the  wilderness  presented  attractions.  As  EHjah  came 
out  from  the  wilderness  with  the  suddenness  of  an  unex- 
pected flash  from  a  careering  cloud,  so  John,  with  hair  and 
beard  untouched  by  the  hand  of  man,  in  coarsest  garments 
and  with  hardiest  fare,  presented  himself  to  the  men  of  that 
generation  in  a  guise  suited  to  command  their  instant  at- 
tention, and  secure  their  highest  respect. 

He  was  almost  a  reproduction  of  Elijah's  self;  and  like 
him,  was  awful  in  his  reproof  of  sin.  The  old  prophet  had 
been  not  onlj^  stern,  but,  as  it  were,  fierce  in  his  denuncia- 
tions. The  man  vMo,  in  his  zeal  for  Jehovah,  could  with 
his  own  hand,  in  obedience  to  the  law  of  Moses,  immolate 
the  prophets  of  Baal,  was  not  the  man  to  mince  or  hesi-, 
tate  in  the  condemnation  of  wrong.  His  romantic  courage, 
and  his  invincible  faith,  gave  him  an  undisputed  ascendency; 
the  king  trembled  before  him,  and  the  hearts  of  the  people 
bowed  to  him. 

John  possessed  a  kindred  zeal  and  courage,  and  in  his 
preaching  emulated  the  old  reformer,  whom  he  represented. 
His  nu'ssage  agreed  with  the  expectations  of  the  people^ 
l)eing  of  the  same  tenor  with  that  delivered  b3'  the  mighty 
prophets  of  the  past  in  every  degenerate  age.  as  the  prepa- 


HISTORICAL   AND  DOCTRINAL.  39 

tion  for  God's  returning  favor.  By  the  immediate  adherence 
of  the  people,  he  became  at  once  the  master  spirit  of  the 
times.  In  the  brief  reports  of  his  addresses  left  us,  we  learn 
that  he  '"knew  not  to  give  flattering  titles  to  men:"  but, 
as  one  ordaiued  of  God,  spoke  ^vith  the  most  blunt  direct- 
ness of  address,  the  most  caustic  severity,  and  the  most 
scathing  denunciation  of  sin.  For  a  time  he  filled  the  view 
of  the  nation;  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Sanhedrim, 
who,  by  a  special  committee,  investigated  his  mission:  and 
drew  the  gaze  of  Herod,  who  invited  him  to  preach  before 
himself  and  court. 

The  plainness  and  severity  with  which  he  revealed  and 
denounced  the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees.  ring  like  the  words 
of  Christ  himself.  He  inculcated  a  spiritual  instead  of  a 
formal  religion,  a  repentance  that  should  be,  as  the  word 
signifies,  a  change  of  heart;  and  demanded  a  reformation 
that  should  be  a  necessary  result  of  this  inward  grace. 
He  was  thus  restoring  primitive  Judaism. 

His  life  seems  to  us,  as  we  read  its  record,  a  sad  one  in- 
deed. He  was  destined  not  to  see  the  victory-  of  the  Mes- 
siah, nor  to  understand  the  outcome  of  his  career;  but  to 
die  amid  the  doubts  and  perplexities  arising  from  his  mas- 
ter's want  of  success,  and  fast  approaching  rejection  by  his 
own  people.  In  his  despondency  even  he  I'esembles  his 
illustrious  prototype.  We  can  hardly  recognize  Elijah  in 
the  prostrate  form  under  the  juniper  tree.  The  man  of  iron, 
who  could  face  a.  frowning  world,  when  he  did  succumb, 
seemed  to  fail  entirely,  and  become  weak  as  any  other  man. 
Like  him  John,  notwithstanding  the  fullest  assurances  of 
the  Messiahship  of  Jesus,  worn  with  confinement,  tired  out 
with  delay,  and  im]3atient  of  the  darkening  prospect,  sent 
messengers  to  imjuire  of  the  Master:  "Art  thou  he  that 
should  come,  or  do  we  look  for  another?"  For  a  time  he 
seemed  "a  reed  shaken  by  the  wind;""  but  only  for  a  time. 
Herodias,  the  evil  genius  of  Antipas,  as  Jezebel  was  of  Ahab, 
was  his  irreconcilable  enemy,  h'ing  in  continual  wait,  and 
at  length  prevailed  against  him.  He  was  left  to  die  amid 
the  darkness;  not  favored  like  Moses  with  a  Pisgah  view 
of  the  coming:  kino-dom.    He  laid  down  his  life  amid  the 


40  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

deepest  shadows  of  the  valley' ;  but  clinging  more  closely 
than  ever  to  him  whom  he  had  heralded. 

A  marvellous  sympathy  for  him  was  in  ever^-  heart;  and 
not  a  doubt  was  felt  of  his  mission  as  a  true  propnet.  But 
the  like  had  never  occurred  before.  The  messengers  whom 
God  had  sent  had,  without  exception,  been  long-lived ; 
even  if  they  had  at  last  become  victims  of  the  rage  of 
enemies.  They  had  been  invulnerable  by  the  hostilities 
of  opposers,  until  the  purpose  of  their  life  had  been  accora- 
pHshed.  God  had  defended  them  b^-  the  shield  of  his  own 
presence ;  and  saved  them  by  camps  of  angels  in  the  midst 
of  persecutors.  Their  service  had  been  extended  through 
years  of  testimou3'  and  labor ;  but  John  perished  being  yet 
young.  Isaiah  had  prophesied  for  sixty  years;  Jeremiah, 
Ezekiel,  Micah,  Moses  and  Daniel,  forty  3'earseach;  John's 
ministry  had  continued  but  little  more  than  a  year.  An 
unspeakable  sympathy  for  his  untimelj^  end  filled  the  hearts 
of  the  nation.  That  the  only  prophet,  that  had  appeared 
for  four  centuries,  should,  after  thirty  years  of  preparation, 
be  thus  cut  off  after  one  year  of  service,  proved  some  deep 
design  of  him  who  worketh  all  things  wiseh^  and  well.  X 
melancholjMnterest  attached  to  his  memory;  and  gave  rise 
to  the  fancy,  that  he  might  yet  rise  from  the  dead  to  com- 
plete his  career. 

But  nevertheless  his  work  was  done.  To  designate  the 
great  Redeemer  was  honor  enough  for  any  single  life.  He 
had  time  to  bear  ample  testimon3' ;  and  his  loudest  procla- 
mation had  been  made  by  his  death.  He  had  been  superior 
to  Moses  and  all  hij-  successors  in  the  woiiders  of  his  birth, 
and  the  near  position  he  had  held  to  the  man  of  promise. 
They  had  testified  of  him  standing  afar  off,  and  looking 
down  the  ages;  he  had  laid  his  hands  upon  him  in  that 
service,  by  which  he  had  conseci-ated  himself  to  God  as  his 
righteous  servant  .to  accomplish  the  great  work  of  the  re- 
demption of  a  race.  His  was  the  place  of  honor  nearest  to 
the  king  of  glor\':  and  it  was  meet  that  when  the  Lord  ap- 
peared, the  servant  should  immediately  disappear.  Such 
is  the  conduct  becoming  the  i)Osition   which  he  occu])ied. 

Every  eye  was  thus  turned  ui)on  him,  "who  came  after 
him  but  was  before  him,   and   before  Abraham,   before  all 


HISTORICAL   AND  DOCTRINAL.  41 

creatures ;  and  with  God  when  only  God  was.  As  the  morning 
star  disappears  in  the  glory  of  the  approaching  luminary; 
so  John  dropped  out  of  view.  His  death  thus  announced 
the  fact,  that  the  sun  had  arisen ;  the  man  of  destiny  is 
standing  among  you ;  the  seed  of  the  woman  has  come ; 
God  has  provided  nis  lamb  of  whom  he  spake  to  Abraham  ; 
the  crisis  of  the  world  is  at  hand ;  the  age  of  the  prophets 
has  passed,  and  the  age  of  fulfilment  has  come.  God,  by 
snatching  away  John  at  this  stage  of  his  career,  said,  as 
it  were,  the  principal  figure  is  before  the  eyes  of  the  nation ; 
let  nothing  divert  their  gaze  from  him.  "  This  is  my  beloved 
son,  hear  him." 

Come  we  now  to  the  great  incident  of  the  ministry,  the 
baptism  of  Jesus.  John  was  evidently  well  acquainted  with 
the  son  of  Mary.  He  knew  doubtless  all  about  his  heavenly 
descent,  his  miraculous  conception,  and  his  sinless  life.  That 
his  parents  should  have  concealed  from  him  any  of  the 
particulars  of  the  history  of  one,  with  whom  his  own  life  was 
to  be  so  closely  interwoven,  is  quite  improbable.  Mary  had 
no  confidant  but  Ehzabeth;'"  as  "she  kept  all  these  things" 
from  the  world,  "and  pondered  them  in  her  heart."  These 
matters  were  not  the  theme  of  common  gossip;  but  sacred 
secrets  of  which  she  could  speak  freely  onl}^  with  the  wife 
of  Zacharias,  whose  condition  of  pregnane}^  the  angel  had 
proposed  to  her,  as  the  confirmation  of  the  message  deliv- 
ered to  herself. 

No  reason  can  be  suggested,  why  the  two  children  should 
not  have  often  met ;  and  indeed  become  familiar  associates, 
understanding  their  relative  positions  and  future  connec- 
tion. John  probably  knew  all  that  his  mother  was  able 
to  communicate;  and  the  words  in  which  he  declined  ad- 
ministering baptism  to  the  only  one,  in  whose  case  the 
outward  sign  of  purification  seemed  inappropriate,  and  the 
shock  which  he  evidently  felt  at  the  mention  of  it,  demon- 
strate the  fulness  of  his  information.  John  certainly  un- 
derstood him  to  be  the  Holy  One  of  God.  The  sinlessness 
of  his  childhood  and  youth  had  distinguished  him,  as  clearly 
as  the  immaculate  purity  of  his  riper  years.  His  had  been 
a  childhood  purer  than  the  snow ;  a  youth  whiter  than  the 
light;  a  young  manhood  of  celestial  nobility. 


42  SKETCH  KS    KIUIM    THK    LIFK   OF  JESUS. 

The  ordinamv  of  pniificatioii  seemed  to  have  no  appliea- 
tiou  to  him  :  nor  did  it,  except  as  an  act  of  consecration  on 
his  part.  When  Jolm  said.  ''I  knew  him  not."  his  meaninji' 
must  have  been  that  he  did  not  ottit'ially  know  him.  When 
God  sent  him  to  baptize  and  to  reveal  the  hidden  Christ, 
lie  had  not  desi^-nated  him  bv  name  or  by  description :  bnt 
had  given  a  sign  by  whieh  he  shonld  be  rei'ognized. 
when  he  appeared.  John  did  not  even  know  that  the  sign 
would  be  connected  with  the  administered  ordinance. 

There  was  a  baptism  for  whieh  himself  daily  prayed  ;  an 
inward  purification,  the  only  earthly  boon  he  craved ;  and 
Jesus,  he  knew,  had  the  ]iower  to  bestow  it:  the  baptism 
of  the  Holy  Ghost :  '■and  comest  thou  to  me?  "  The  reply 
of  Jesus  to  this  demurrer  was:  "Suffer  it  to  be  so  now; 
for  thus  it  becometli  us  to  fulfill  all  righteousness,"  and  it 
implies  that  our  Lord  felt  himself  bound  to  comply  with 
every  requirement  exacted  of  man :  and  seems  to  contain 
an  implication,  that  John's  hesitation  arose  from  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  true  standing  of  the  exalted  applicant  before 
him.  The  man,  whom  the  countenance  of  an  angry  king 
could  not  abash,  was  thoroughly  overcome  at  the  presence 
of  the  humble,  road-stained  traveler  from  Nazareth.  He 
knew  that,  by  the  ordinance,  he  could  no  more  add  to 
Jesus,  than  he  could  add  light  to  the  sun,  or  gild  the  sky. 
It  was  doubtless  with  trembling  hands  that  he  poured  the 
water  of  consecration  upon  the  head  destined  to  wear  the 
diadem  of  the  universe.  It  was  the  one  occasion  of  his  life, 
the  crowning  act  iif  his  career. 

As  the  two,  apart  from  the  crowd  of  spectators,  ascended 
the  bank  of  Jordan  together.  Jesus  prayed,  perhaps  on 
this  wise:  "Lo.  1  come  to  do  thy  will.  O.  God:  in  the  vol- 
ume of  the  book  it  is  written  of  me.  Sacrifice  and  offering 
thou  wouldst  not :  a  body  hast  thou  prepared  me :  burnt- 
offering  and  sin-offering  thou  hast  not  required:  yea.  thy 
law  is  in  my  heart."  Make  me  to  bear  their  griefs,  and 
carry  their  sorrows:  to  be  wounded  for  their  transgressions: 
and  bruised  for  their  iniipiities:  let  the  chastisement  of 
their  peace  be  on  me:  and  by  my  stripes  let  them  be  healed  : 
let  me  be  brouaht   as  a   lamb  to  the  slaua'hter:   and    lav 


IIISTOlilCAL    AND    DOCTUINAL.  48 

upon  me  llie  iiii(]nitv  of  tliein  all;"  let  me  bwoino  the  wcape- 
goat  of  human  sin  and  hi.v  down  my  life,  the  jnst  foi-  the 
unjust. 

As  he  prayed,  the  heaven  was  opened,  i.  e.,  a  beam  of 
liftht  brio-hter  than  tlie  midday  sun,  came  from  beyond  the 
region  of  sun  and  stars,  and  illuminated  his  ])erson ;  and 
in  the  light  the  form  of  the  bird  of  mourning  (drcled  down; 
until  it  alighted  upon  his  head;  and  abode  upon  him.  All 
saw  the  light;  foi-  .Justin  Martyi-  i-elates  that  the  banks  of 
Jordan  were  illuminated  fai'  and  near;  but  none  but  the 
two  saw  the  glittering  form  of  the  dov(^ 

Simultaneously  came  a  voice  fi-om  heaven ;  "this  is  my 
beloved  son,  in  whom  1  am  well  pleased;"  and  after  the 
form  of  the  dove  had  alighted,  the  voice  repeated:  "thou 
art  my  beloved  son;  in  thee  I  am  well  pleased."  And  so 
was  fulfill(!d  the  scripture  in  Is.  XI;  2,  which  says,  when 
the  little  shoot  shall  sprout  from  the  decayed  root  of  the 
stump,  not  of  David,  for  there  was  nothing  royal  about 
him,  but  of  Jesse,  the  plain,  private  citizen;  "on  him  shall 
rest  the  s])irit  of  the  Lord,  the  s])irit  of  wisdom  and  un- 
derstanding, the  s|)iT-it  of  counsel  and  might,  the  s])irit  of 
knowledge  and  of  the  fear  of  the  Lord;"  the  seven-fold 
energies  of  the  divine  spirit;  or  as  I'aul  puts  it,  "the  spirit 
without  measure." 

Such  influences  no  mere  man  can  receive  and  live;  more 
than  man  can  see  (Jod  and  live.  There  have  been  instances 
in  which  the  excess  of  the  divine  influence  has  almost  bro- 
ken the  eai'then  vessel;  and  (iod  has  been  besought  to 
stay  his  hand ;  but  on  Jordan's  bank  stood  one,  who  could 
sustain  the  unstinted  measure  of  holy  influence,  and  bear 
the  face  view  of  the  dread  Jehovah.  This  separates  him 
from  the  mass  of  mankind,  as  the  one  capable  of  assuming 
the  position  of  mediator;  being  able  to  a|)pear  l)y  vii-tue 
of  his  own  i)ersonality  before  the  burning  throne. 

Doubtless  he  might  now  have  said,  as  on  another  similar 
occasion  he  did  say;  "this  voice  came  not  because  of  me; 
but  for  your  sakes."  He  needed  no  confirmation  from 
heaven,  to  enable  him  to  understand  his  own  high  identity; 
or  to  encourage  him  with  ai  conviction  of  his  high  descent. 
That  he  should  be  (lod,  as  well  as  man,   and  not  be  con- 


44       .  SKETCHES  FROM   THE   LIFE  OF  JESL'S. 

scious  of  his  own  exalted  nature,  is  too  puerile  an  inter- 
pretation to  be  regarded :  to  say  that  he  who  had  waited 
4000  years,  till  the  clock  of  destiny  had  struck  the  hour  of 
his  appearance  on  earth,  should  be  when  he  came,  uncon- 
scious of  his  own  personalit3%  is  to  deny  that  he  was  God. 
AVe  find  him  at  twelve  3'ears  of  age  filled  with  the  sub- 
lime consciousness  of  it.  Mary  had  never  communicated  to 
him  the  secret  of  his  origin;  mothers  do  not  speak  of  such 
things  to  their  sons;  she  calls  to  him  at  this  very  time 
Joseph  as  his  father:  "thy  father  and  I  have  sought  thee, 
sorrowing."  His  reply  was  to  the  effect,  I  know  very  well 
the  father,  from  whom  1  am  descended.  "How  is  it  that 
ye  sought  me,"  as  ye  would  have  sought  another  boy, 
through  the  streets,  or  in  the  places  of  common  resort?" 
"Wist  ye  not  that  I  should  be  about  my  father's  business," 
or  in  my  father's  house?  as  the  words  might  Avell  be  trans- 
lated. She  was  amazed,  as  she  well  might  be,  at  his  self- 
consciousness.  He  needed  not  that  any  should  tell  him. 
The  object  of  this  bestowal  of  the  Holy  Ghost  was  to 
energize  and  qualify  his  humanity  for  the  great  work  before 
him.  All  the  abilities  and  graces  which  the  human  nature 
is  capable  of  receiving,  w^ere  bestowed  when  the  spirit  rested 
on  him  "Grace  was  poured  into  his  lips;"  "he  was  an- 
ointed with  the  oil  of  gladness  above  his  fellows:"  "he 
hath  made  my  mouth  as  a  sharp  sword ;  in  the  shadow  of 
his  hand  hath  he  hid  me,  and  made  me  a  polished  shaft; 
in  his  quiver  hath  he  hid  me;  and  said  unto  me,  thou  art 
my  servant  in  whom  I  will  be  glorified." 

The  inauguration  of  a  king  or  president  is  a  great  occa- 
sion and  grand  ceremony.  This  induction  possessed  no 
pomp  or  worldly  show ;  it  was  enacted  in  no  ca.thedral  of 
solemn  architecture,  nor  with  holy  oil ;  but  under  the  great 
dome  of  the  sky,  the  anointing  being  by  the  holy  dove 
from  heaven,  bearing  infiuences  which  none  but  he  can 
impart. 

It  is  impossible  to  conceive  a  more  public  announcement 
of  the  actual  advent  of  the  Messiah  than  was  thus  nmde. 
The  coming  of  the  forerunner  was  advertised  to  the  nation, 
at  one  of  the  great  feasts  probably :  the  birth  of  the  prom- 
ised seed,  and  his  actual  presence  in   Bethlehem,  was  pro- 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  45 

claimed  in  tbe  court  of  Herod  by  the  magi  from  the  East ; 
and  in  due  time  the  appearance  of  the  last  and  greatest  of 
the  prophets  aroused  the  whole  nation  of  the  Jews  into  an 
eager  and  wondering  expectancy;  and  his  sudden  and  al- 
most immediate  disappearance  was  the  loudest  possible 
proclamation  that  the  coming  one  was  alread}^  in  their 
midst.  John  had  only  time  to  say,  "Behold  the  lamb  of 
God,"  and  pointing  to  Jesus  to  say,  ''this  is  he  of  whom 
I  spake:''  and  he  was  gone. 

He  left  all  eyes  strained  to  catch  a  view  of  the  prince  of 
Israel;  and  all  hearts  beating  with  a  strange  expectancy, 
and  ready  to  receive  him.  Jesus  thus  dropped  into  their 
very  midst,  as  God's  "beloved  son,  in  whom  he  was  well 
pleased."  The  way  could  not  have  been  better  prepared 
for  his  immediate. and  unhesitating  reception;  and  heaven 
could  not  have  more  loudly  proclaimed  his  actual  presence. 
The  wonderful  scene  at  his  baj^tism  was  sufficient  to  remove 
all  doubt.  The  whole  process  of  the  gradual  unfolding  of 
the  great  mystery  took  place  in  the  keenest  sunlight  of 
publicity;  and  the  death  of  the  great  prophet  was  itself 
the  loudest  of  all  the  testimonv  which  his  ministrv  afforded. 


46  SKETCHES  FEOM   THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE  CALL   OF  PETER  AND  HIS  ASSOCIATES. 


The  most  iinprestiive  method  of  instruction  is  b}^  obiect 
lessons:  it  was  our  Lord's  favorite  method,  aud  gave  an 
indescribable  power  to  his  words.  The  account  of  the  call 
of  Peter  comprises  one  of  the  most  striking  in  the  history. 
Before  it  is  considered,  it  is  necessary  to  have  some  idea 
of  tlie  man.  Our  Lord's  choice  of  him,  for  the  conspicuous 
position  which  he  occupied,  proves  him  to  have  been  a  re- 
markable man  in  some  respects.  It  is  easily  perceived  from 
his  gospel:  that  he  was  more  affected  by  the  miracles  than 
any  other  of  the  twelve;  and  that  he  comprehended  them 
better.  He  was  a  rude,  uncultivated  fisherman,  noted  more 
for  the  impulsiveness  of  his  disposition  than  for  any  other 
(|uality.  A  stronger  specimen  of  this  cast  of  character  can 
hardlj'^  be  found.  Men  of  this  hasty  temper  are  invariably 
subject  to  certain  sins.  They  are  constitutionally  prone  to 
falsehood,  speaking  without  an  instant's  deliberation.  It 
is  true  of  them,  that  things  say  themselves;  and  they 
know  what  is  uttered,  only  as  they  hear  it.  Falsehood  was 
the  habit  of  Peter's  life;  but  not  deliberate  lies,  so  much 
as  continual  slips  of  the  tongue.  Yet  he  had  not  the 
power  to  deceive;  for  he  was  perfectly  translucent.  To  act 
a  part,  to  carry  out  an  assumed  character,  was  to  him  an 
impossibility.  This  is  true  of  men  of  his  class.  Coming  into 
life  with  so  odious  a.  vice  deeply  imbedded  in  the  structure 
of  our  moral  being,  and  defying  all  attempts  at  correction, 
is  one  of  the  sad  liabilities  of  our  condition  as  fallen  beings. 

Another  vice,  to  which  such  are  prone,  is  profanity.  Sins 
of  the  tongue  are  their  besetment.  The  unruly  member  can 
no  man  tame.  Every  feeling  of  impatience,  of  irritability 
or  disappointment,  speaks  itself  out  in  blasphemy.  Peter 
showed  himself  familiar  with  the  whole  vocabulary  of  the 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAIj.  47 

pit,  when  he  denied  his  lord  and  master.  This  was  but  a 
relapse  into  his  confirmed  habits  of  strong  language.  This 
habit  of  profanity  is  the  only  recognition  of  a  superin- 
tending providence,  and  admission  of  the  being  of  a  God, 
which  some  men  express.  For  its  formation  little  teaching 
or  example  is  needed ;  it  is  the  natural  language  of  the 
hasty,  impulsive,  impetuous  type  of  human  beings. 

Another  weakness  of  the  man  was,  chameleon-liive,  to  take 
the  complexion  of  the  company  in  which  he  fo^nd  himself. 
He  was  entirely  carried  away  with  .the  present  occasion ; 
and  entered  with  the  greatest  zest  into  what  was  passing; 
and  was  largely  moulded  by  the  interests  of  the  hour.  The 
present  was,  with  him,  the  whole  of  life.  No  man  had  a 
keener  appreciation  of  what  was  taking  place,  or  quicker 
observation ;  indeed  he  seemed  for  the  time  to  forget  the 
past,  and  to  surrender  himself  wholly  to  the  events,  amid 
which  he  was.  Ardent  in  his  attachments,  impetuous  in 
his  feelings,  overflowing  with  irrepressible  zeal,  and  possessed 
with  a  high  sense  of  his  own  sufficiency,  he  was  always  the 
first  in  every  emergency ;  and  obeying  the  dictates  of  his 
hasty  temper,  put  himself  easily  and  naturally  in  the  lead 
among  his  fellows. 

He  w'as  by  no  means  a  coward.  In  the  great  exigency 
into  which  his  master  came,  Peter  having  found  him- 
self in  possession  of  one  of  the  swords  belonging  to  the 
company,  with  full  intent  to  use  it  against  whoever  might 
oppose,  be  he  Jew  or  Koman,  was  ready  to  strike  the  first 
blow  of  a  bloody  conflict  against  odds.  His  estimation  of 
himself  was  such  as  to  sustain  him  in  any  measure  he 
might  adopt.  Knowing  the  injustice  of  the  rulers,  the 
meanness  and  treachery  of  their  method,  and  keenly  sensi- 
tive to  the  outrage  being  perpetrated  by  them,  he  took  no 
thought  that  he  was  resisting  the  established  authorities; 
but  abandoned  himself  to  a  contest,  which  proved  him  sin- 
cere; when  he  professed  himself  willing  to  go  to  prison  or 
to  death  with  his  master.  He  struck  with  intent  to  kill  at 
the  first  man  who  laid  his  hands  on  Jesus.  He  was  loyal 
in  his  adherence;  neither  did  he  flee  until  the  use  of  the 
sword  was  interdicted;  and  no  alternative  was  left  him  but 
to  flee,   or  surrender  himself  to  arrest.    He  followed,  how- 


48  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

ever,  iuto  the  very  den  of  lions,  thus  exposino-  himself  to 
the  cruel  temptation,  which  swept  him  away.  There  were 
grand  points  in  the  man's  make-up,  allied,  however,  with 
the  most  glaring  weaknesses. 

If  there  was  ever  a  mortal,  who  stood  in  need  of  the  in- 
dwelling superintendence  and  guidance  of  a  heavenly  moni- 
tor, Peter  was  the  man,  With  the  inward  director,  he  was 
in  himself  a  host ;  without  it,  he  was  unsteady,  unreliable 
and  wavering.  He  maj''  have  been  chosen  as  the  leader  on 
this  very  account ;  th^t  his  weakness  might  compel  him  to 
rely  upon  the  continual  aids  of  divine  grace.  Jesus  was  to 
be  the  leader :  and  the  visible  conductor  was  to  take  orders 
every  instant  from  the  presiding  spirit;  who  was  able  to 
make  the  bruised  reed  stable  as  a  rock,  for  which  he  was 
named,  amid  the  beating  billows  of  the  sea.  About  one 
thing  he  never  wavered,  the  divinity  of  his  master,  whose 
inward  direction  imparted  to  the  apostle's  character  a  dig- 
nity, completeness  and  force  never  surpassed.  He  would 
have  been  a  prominent  man  in  an^--  age  or  community'. 

When  at  length  the  great  crisis  arrived,  which  brought 
him  to  the  front,  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  twelve;  the 
last  touch  of  preparation,  the  culminating  finish  of  his 
education,  was  the  permitting  him  to  fall  into  the  sore 
temptation,  which  carried  him  away  as  with  a  fiood.  In 
the  hour  when  his  master  needed  a  friend,  and  "looked 
around  for  comforters  but  found  none,"  this  disciple,  full 
of  the  loudest  professions,  was  left,  with  harsh  and  angrj^ 
voice,  in  the  very  hearing  of  his  Lord,  to  repudiate  him  with 
the  vilest  blasphemy.  This  denial,  coming  at  the  time 
when  it  would  be  felt  most  deeply,  was  a  part  of  the  suf- 
ferings of  the  holy  one. 

But  to  return  to  the  fisherman,  at  the  time  of  his  call, 
he  had  been  for  some  time  a  nominal  adherent  of  the 
Xazarene;  and  had  received  the  surname  of  Cephas  or 
Peter,  transferring  his  connection  from  the  Baptist  to  the 
one  whom  he  heralded.  While  our  Lord  remained  in 
Capernaeum,  he  abode  at  Peter's  house;  visiting  it  after 
the  synagogue  servici?  on  the  first  memorable  Sabbath. 

During  the  service  a  surprising  incident  had  occurred.  A  man 
possessed  by  a  demon  had  been  present,  who  was  indeed  a 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  49 

regular  altenclaiit ;  and  bad  been  allowed  to  come,  because 
he  2;enerally  conducted  himself  with  proper  decorum,  as  in- 
sane persons  commonly  do  durino-  religious  exercises;  but 
who  on  this  occasion  became  spasmodically'  excited  at  the 
presence  of  Jesus ;  and  interrupted  the  worship  by  exclaim- 
ing in  a  loud  and  angry  tone,  assuming  to  s]3eak  for  the 
whole  assembly:  "Let  us  alone.  AVhat  have  we  to  do  with 
thee,  thou  Jesus  of  Nazareth?  Art  thou  come  to  destroy 
us?  /  know  thee  who  thou  art,  the  holy  one  of  God." 
This  discernment  was  not  the  instinct  of  insanity,  which 
often  shows  an  unexampled  intuition;  but  was  the  utter- 
ance of  the  demon,  who  alone  of  all  present  knew  the  pre- 
cise status  of  the  teacher.  When  Jesus  authoritatively 
commanded  him  out  of  his  victim,  he  indeed  complied  with 
manifestations  of  rage;  but  "came  out  of  him,  and  hurt 
him  not."  The  remaining  portion  of  the  service  Avas  eon- 
ducted  amid  an  awe-struck  stilness  and  attention;  but  an 
astounding  proclanmtion  had  been  made  of  the  high  char- 
acter of  the  strange  teacher. 

Coming  to  Peter's  house,  greater  wonders  still  ensued. 
His  Avife's  mother,  the  victim  of  a  dangerous  fever,  was 
instantly  restored  to  health  and  strength ;  so  as  to  return 
at  once,  without  an  interval  of  convalescence,  to  the  labors 
of  her  housekeepinir.  And  this  was  only  one  of  many 
equally  astonishing  cures  wrought  when  the  sun  had  set. 
No  one  was  more  impressed  by  these  mighty  works  than 
Peter  himself,  whose  penetrating  observation  and  acute 
judgement  served  him  well. 

On  the  next  day,  as  Jesus  was  walking  by  the  sea  of 
Galilee,  a  great  multitude  thronged  him;  for  the  people 
were  thoroughl}-  aroused,  desirous  to  hear  again  from  the 
teacher  of  yesterday.  By  the  shore,  in  a  spot  where  the 
water  was  of  suitable  depth,  lay  two  ships  belonging,  one 
to  Simon  and  Andrew  and  the  other  to  Zebedee  and  his 
sons  James  and  John.  Jesus  being  thus  called  upon  for  dis- 
course, entered  into  one  of  the  ships,  which  was  Simon's, 
and  prayed  him  to  launch  out  a  little  from  the  shore. 
When  the  vessel  had  been  put  in  about  the  centre  of  the 
cove;  our  Lord  had  an  improvised  pulpit  as  convenient  as 
—4 


50  SKETCHES  FROM  THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

could  be  arranged,  and  an  audience  well  accommodated  for 
hearing;  and  he  sat  down  and  taught  them  fi-oni  the  ship. 

Of  the  subject  and  tenor  of  his  discourse,  nothing  is 
known;  except  that  his  personality'  was  as  distinctly  audi- 
ble in  his  Avords,  as  his  power  was  visible  in  his  works. 
At  the  close  he  requested  Peter  to  launch  out  into  deep 
water,  and  let  down  his  net  for  a  draught,  a  request  with 
which  Peter  hesitatingly  complied,  observing  that  the^'  had 
"toiled  all  night  and  taken  nothing.''  There  was  in  his 
words  the  tone  of  an  expert,  who  knows  what  he  is  talking 
about,  and  is  well  apprised  that  there  is  no  possibility  of 
success.  The  day  time  and  bright  sunshine  are  not  the 
season  for  fishing;  night  is  the  time.  The  deep  waters  are 
not  the  place  for  catching  with  a  net;  but  the  shallower 
sea.  But  in  face  of  his  fisherman  instinct  he  ^vas  willing 
to  let  down  the  net  "at  thy  word."  The  result  w^as  that 
the  net  was  neither  large  enough  nor  strong  enough  to 
hold  the  finny  prey  that  was  captured.  It  was  impossible 
to  haul  it  to  the  shore  as  it  was  alreadj'-  breaking  from 
the  abundance  of  the  catch. 

The  solemnity'  of  the  company  can  be  understood  from 
the  quiet  call  to  their  partners;  they  beckoned  without 
speaking.  When  the  other  ship  came  to  Peter's  assistance, 
the  greatest  wonder  of  all  was;  that  as  fast  as  the  fish 
were  taken  out  by  scoop  nets,  other  fish  continued  entering 
the  net,  replacing  again  and  again  those  which  had  been  re- 
moved; until  both  the  ships  were  sunken  to  the  gunwales; 
and  a  little  add^'nonal  weight  would  have  carried  them  to 
the  bottom.  Ships  of  size  were  used  upon  the  lake,  as  we 
learn  from  Josephus.  A  big  haul  of  a  hundred  and  fifty 
and  three  would  not  sink  a  canoe;  unless  they  had  been 
monsters.  Enough  were  caught  to  furnish  each  one  of  the 
assembled  crowd  or  each  family  represented  with  its  food 
for  the  day.  Like  the  widow's  pot  of  oil  which  ceased  not 
running  until  the  vessels  prepared  to  receive  it  were  ex- 
hausted ;  the  fish  came  through  the  broken  opening  in  the 
net;   until  there  was  no  room  to  store  them  farther. 

This,  occurring  in  Peter's  own  trade,  with  every  feature 
of  which  he  had  been  familiar  from  boyhood,  carried  him 
entirely  awa3\    He  left  the  business  of  the  fish  entirel}-  to 


HISTOKICAL  AND   DOCTRINAL.  51 

other  hands,  transported  by  an  impulse  which  it  was  not  in 
him  to  resist,  and  turned  his  attention  to  the  strange  preacher 
cahnlv  sitting  on  his  deck,  who  seemed  in  some  inexplicable 
way  associated  with  the  power  that  ruled  the  sea,  and  to 
be  indeed  "the  holy  one  of  God."'  Judgment  had  been  for 
some  days  pursuing  him;  it  overtook  him  just  then;  he 
himself  was  caught.  He  was  suddenly  full  of  a  sense  of  his 
unworthiness;  "he  was  weighed  in  the  balance  and  found 
wanting;"  and  would  fain  have  fled  to  hide  himself  like 
Adam.  Unfit  to  occupy  the  same  abode  with  Jesus,  he  fell  at 
his  knees,  with  the  words  pouring  from  his  broken  heart; 
"depart  from  me,  for  I  am  a  sinful  man,  0  Lord." 

There  is  nothing  that  can  produce  such  certainty  of  di- 
vine rule  and  divine  judgment  as  an  awakened  conscience- 
the  convictions  of  reason  are  shadows  in  comparison.  He 
could  not  bear  the  inspection  of  this  stranger,  whose  eye 
seemed  to  pierce  into  his  naked  and  open  breast.  It  was 
not  the  miracle  that  so  moved  him :  it  was  the  power  be- 
hind it:  and  the  stainless  purity.  His  prayer  was  almost 
a  repetition  of  that  of  the  poor  demonized  man  of  the 
Sabbath  just  past:  "Let  us  alone.  What  have  we  to  do 
with  thee,  thou  Jesus  of  Nazareth?  I  know  thee,  who  thou 
art:  the  hol}^  one  of  God."  Our  Lord  hastened  to  quiet 
his  fear:  we  are  most  acceptable  in  his  sight  when  least  in 
our  own:  "Fear  not;  from  henceforth  thou  shalt  catch 
men;"  "but  rise  and  stand  upon  thy  feet;  for  I  have  ap_ 
peared  unto  thee  for  this  purpose  to  make  thee  a  minister, 
and  a  witness  both  of  those  things  which  thou  hast  seen, 
and  of  those  things  in  the  which  I  will  appear  unto  thee; 
delivering  thee  from  the  people,  unto  whom  now  I  send 
thee,  to  open  their  eyes;  to  turn  them  from  darkness  to 
light ;  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God ;  that  they 
may  receive  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  inheritance  among 
those  which  are  sanctified  through  faith  that  is  in  me." 

This  was  a  promise  of  unprecedented  success.  He  should 
reap  that  whereon  he  had  bestowed  no  labor.  Other  men 
had  labored ;  .lohn  the  Baptist  had  sowed  the  seed  through 
the  gloom ;  and  had  not  seen  one  ray  of  the  coming  glory. 
Even  Jesus  himself  had  seen  little  fruit  of  his  labors.  On 
the  Pentecost  the  harvest  time  of  the  Jewish  nation  began 


52  SKETCHES  FROM   THE  LIFE   OF  JESTS. 

Peter  was  eminently  fitted  for  a  gathei-er,  beino-  a  man  of 
instantaneous  decision  himself,  hastA'  and  intense  in  his 
emotions  and  activities,  jumping-  with  all  the  fervor  of  his 
nature  to  the  course  to  be  pursued.  His  whole  emotion  cen- 
tered in  the  present.  He  was  the  man  to  charge  home  to 
the  conscience  of  the  Jews  the  unspeakable  guilt  of  reject- 
ing their  Messiah,  and  to  call  upon  them  immediately  to 
repent  and  convert.  Christ  chose  Peter,  crushed  like  the 
broken  reed,  fit  only  to  be  cast  aside  and  rejected.  W^'hile 
his  heart  was  still  sore  over  his  own  apostasy,  he  was  filled 
with  pity  for  those  who  persisted  in  denying  the  Lord  that 
bought  them,  and  could  address  them  in  their  guilt  as 
••brethren."'  Ye  denied  him  before  Pilate:  "I  wot  that 
through  ignorance  ye  did  it:"  My  own  denial  was  in  the 
face  of  knowledge  and  profession.  The  tide  of  his  feeling- 
rose  to  the  flood  as  he  exhorted  them  to  save  themselves 
from  this  untoward  generation.  His  preaching  must  have 
had  in  it  a  wonderful  force,  if  Ave  may  judge  of  it  by  the 
epistles  which  he  has  left.  An  immense  tersene-^s  and  vigor 
sound  in  them ;  and  we  almost  hear  the  word  now,  now  in 
every  exhortation,  (lifted  with  pith}-,  nervous  address, 
and  capable  of  herculean  efforts  on  the  spur  of  the  mo- 
ment, he  was  admirably  qualified  for  the  work  which  he 
was  called  to  perform. 

God  can  indeed  make  use  of  any  man's  individuality,  and 
endue  it  with  such  power  as  to  render  him  the  ver^^  man 
for  the  age;  but  God  himself  must  polish  the  shaft. 

2.  A  long  night,  of  seemingly  fruitless  toil  precedes  the 
ingathering.  A  season  of  sowing  always  precedes  the  reap- 
ing season.  The  work  of  the  sower  is  longer  extended  and 
more  arduous  than  that  of  the  reaper.  It  is  his  to  watch 
the  favorable  moment,  and  to  cast  in  the  seed,  when  he  finds 
the  soil  broken  up  to  receive  it.  In  the  womb  of  the  earth 
it  may  lie  buried  out  of  sight  long,  waiting  for  the  coming 
of  the  showers,  and  the  vivifying  heat  of  the  sun.  The 
sower  does  his  work  with  weeping,  and  soaks  his  seed  with 
tears.  The  process  of  germination  is  beyond  his  observa- 
tion. The  christian  mother  is  the  seed-sower  first  in  order 
of  time;  and  her  efforts  may  for  a  long  pei-iod  seem  un- 
availino-;    vet    are   thev   not    abandoned.      The   christian 


HISTOKICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  53 

teacher  and  friend  are  engaged  in  the  same  work :  and 
everj'  scripture  truth  u.sed  is  a  seed  deposited  in  a  i-eadj 
soil.  The  preacher  of  the  gospel  is  above  all  others  the 
divinely'  appointed  laborer,  scattering  broadcast  the  seeds 
of  truth. 

Often  one  sows  and  another  reaps.  The  whole  life  of  Eli- 
jah the  mighty  prophet  appears  to  have  been  preparatory 
and  introductory:  the  fruit  was  gathered  by  his;  successor. 
Such  were  the  labors  of  the  Baptist:  he  was  the  sower  of 
the  seed,  while  others  gathered  the  harvest.  Daniel  also  in 
Babylon  prepared  the  way  for  subsequent  results.  Every 
great  advance  of  the  church  follows  a  period  of  protracted, 
faithful  and  laborious  effort. 

3.  Success  comes  at  the  word  of  Christ.  God  can  bring 
men  to  decision  by  the  arrangements  of  his  providence :  as 
the  arrest  and  condemna.tion  of  the  Nazarene  forced  Joseph 
of  Arimathea  and  Nicodemus  to  a  public  avowal  of  their 
long-concealed  convictions,  and  to  a  sincere  acknowledge- 
ment of  their  allegiance  to  the  rejected  one.  He  knows 
how  to  place  a  man  at  the  point,  Avhere  the  two  ways  part, 
and  leave  him  to  make  his  selection.  As  the  ambassador 
of  Rome  drew  a  circle  with  his  cane  around  Mithridates; 
and  required  a  definite  answer  of  compliance  with  the  de- 
mands of  the  senate,  or  of  refusal,  before  he  crossed  the 
line  of  the  circle:  so  God  hedges  a  man's  way,  and  brings 
him  to  a  stand;  that  he  may  choose  or  refuse  submission 
to  the  requirements  of  the  gospel.  He  can  bring  a  whole 
nation  to  the  point  at  onc^,  "multitudes,  multitudes  in  the 
valley  of  decision:''  as  the  whole  Jewish  nation  was 
brought  by  the  resurrection  of  Jesus :  and  forced  to  take 
sides  either  for  the  truth  or  for  the  falsehood. 

Whenever  men  either  single  or  in  crowds  find  themselves 
compelled  to  an  immediate  decision  of  compliance  with  the 
demands,  of  the  gospel,  or  of  refusal :  such  a,  season  may 
be  the  crisis  of  their  eternal  destin3\  Their  whole  opportu- 
nity may  be  narrowed  down;  till  much  may  depend  upon 
the  conduct  of  an  hour.  The  kingdom  of  heaven  has  come 
nigh  unto  such. 

As  the  husbandman  sows  his  wheat  in  the  autumn,  and 
sees  it  buried  in  the  soil  during  all  the  frosts  of  winter, 


54  sKirrciiKs  kuom    riiK  likk  ok  .iksis. 

\vlitM-(>  it  cnmiot  \  (\nt>l  ji(o:  so  llic  spii-itiuil  sower  u\i\y  do- 
posit  his  s(M>(l  with  no  i)i-osjK>('t  of  an  ininKMJiatc  harvest  ; 
bnt  (lod  can  solt(Mi  the  soil  by  th(>  «»vnial  inlluenci'  of  the 
retui'nin^'  sun.  and  send  the  vivifyino*  showers;  and  the 
Hov{\  which  had  seemed  dead  may  start  to  a.  new  lif«»;  and 
a  mi«ihty  field  break  into  ii-r(>enness  at  once.  In  tlH^s])irit- 
ual  domain  we  call  such  an  ev(Md  a  revival.  The  Savior  is 
"  wisi»  in  counsel  and  exc(>ll(Mit  in  woi'Uin^:"  and  it  is  he, 
who  ordcM-s  and  su|terintends  the  proj;ri>ss  of  his  church, 
lie  not  only  prepared  the  lii^ld.  but  the  reaper.  Vetev  was 
(pialitied  foi-  his  woi-k  not  only  by  his  broktMi  h(>a,rted 
JUMuility;  but  by  the  sincerity  and  transparency  of  his 
character,  liki*  a  cl(>ar  ii'hiss  trausnuttinu;  the  rays  of  the 
lio-h(   that  slu)ne  within  him. 

l''ncourai;"ed  by  the  promis(>  of  Jesus,  and  tilltMl  with  a 
i-(>al  but  ,\et  untried  faith.  Simon  and  .Vudnnv.  and  shortly 
aft(M-  Jai;;»'s  and  John,  forsook  all  and  followeci  him.  lb» 
who  comnmnded  all  the  treasures  of  Ww  (hn'p,  and  who 
conUl  su[)ply  the  choictvst  wine  from  the  common  bevera«»e 
from  th(>  fountain,  could  be  trusted  for  all  ntvded  temporal 
suppli(>s.  TetiM-  buoyantly  l(>ft  his  family,  and  was  willinji' 
to  folli>w  his  master  to  j>rison  ov  to  death,  confroutinji'  a 
world  in  arms.  Their  faith  was  iienuint^:  their  convictit>ns 
inunovable:  and  they  wtMH>  eai;er  to  link  their  fortunes  with 
the  tmt ion's  dt^livtM-(M-.  Views  of  worldly  advancement  ami 
riches  never  io  be  attaiutnl  ftauuHl  a  d(>c(>])tive  mii'aii'c  ho- 
fore  thtMu. 

Had  th(\v  known  the  truth,  as  tlu\v  afterwards  leariuMl 
it.  their  zeal  miuht  not  have  been  so  ardent;  yet  their 
attachnuMit  was  sinctM'c;  and  tlu\v  committed  themselves  to 
tlu>  direction  of  the  nt>w  U>adtM"  without  hesitation;  expect- 
uiiX  the  sjuHMJy  fultilluuMit  of  his  word,  by  the  universal  con- 
sent of  the  nation  to  his  indis|)utable  claims.  .Mas,  how 
h)n«i-  and  dark  ;r  niuht  of  toil  was  to  inter-  venel  and  how 
far  from  univtM-sal  was  tin*  nation's  approval  and  adoption 
t)f  him  tt>  bel 


HISTOnirAL   AND   DOrTIUXAL.  55 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE  FIRST  MIRACLE,    JOHN  II;  1-: 


Tlie  first  display  of  divine  power  by  the  new  teacher  took 
place  in  an  insignificant  village  of  Galilee,  whose  very  name 
might  have  been  forgotten  ages  ago,  but  foi-  the  celebrity 
given  it  by  this  occurrence.  The  family,  for  whose  help  the 
miracle  was  wrought,  was  not  only  poor,  but  of  the  poorest. 
The  season  of  the  year  was  jjrobably  the  time  of  the  vint- 
age, when  winf!  making  was  in  progress  on  ev^ery  hand,  and 
a  supply  could  be  obtained  in  any  stage  of  preparation, 
from  the  fresh  must  to  the  perfectly  fermented  beverage. 
The  memorable  baptism  probably  took  place  in  the  early 
autumn;  and  this  marriage  followed  shortly  after.  Indif- 
ferent wine  was  cheap  and  abundant:  that  the  family  was 
in  a  condition  of  poverty  is  plain,  from  the  fact  that  a 
sufficient  quantity  for  the  protracted  feast  vvas  not  obtained, 
and  that  not  of  the  best.  The  poor  were  ever  the  subjects  se- 
lected for  the  benefits  which  the  Lord  V)estowed. 

The  miracle  was  unexpected :  no  previous  intimation  be- 
ing given.  The  virgin  mother  alone  seems  to  have  been 
looking  for  some  display,  which  might  justify  the  great 
predictions  of  angel  and  prophet.  And  then  no  one,  not 
even  the  servants,  who  drew  the  water,  saw  any  steps  of  a 
visible  process.  All  was  effected  silently,  and  beyond  the 
ken  of  observation.  Had  any,  previously  informed  of  what 
was  coming,  stationed  themselves  at  the  water  jars  to  watch 
the  proceeding,  it  is  quite  certain  that  nothing  could  have 
been  observ^ed,  except  the  deepening  color  of  the  water,  at 
the  moment  when  the  lips  of  the  governor  of  the  feast 
tested  the  cup:  and  at  that  moment  the  miracle  .was  al- 
ready past.  It  had  been  accomplished  in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye:  there  was  no  manipulation.  Nor  vvas  immediate 
proximity  to  the  water  jars  on  his  part  necessary  at  all. 


56  ski;t(  in:s  from  the  like  of  jesus. 

His  was  a  power  as  effective  at  a  distance  as  close  at  hand. 
Such  silent,  instantaneous  unobservable  operation  belongs 
to  (lod  alone. 

The  first  thing  suggested  b\'  this  history-,  is,  that  Jesus 
is  the  only  son,  and  indeed  the  on\y  child,  of  Joseph  and 
Marv  In  several  passages  of  the  gospels,  he  is  said  to  have 
had  brethren  and  sisters;  but  according  to  Hebrew  usage 
of  speaking,  a  man's  near  relatives  were  all  of  them  broth- 
ers and  sisters.  In  2  Kings  x:  13-14,  the  brethren  of  Aha- 
ziah,  king  of  -hidali,  are  mentioned  forty  and  two  men. 

Ry  referring  back  to  2  Chron.  XXII:  1,  it  is  learned  that 
Ahaziah  had  no  brothers,  he  alone  having  survived  the 
massacre  of  the  royal  family  by  the  Arabians.  The  brethren 
spoken  of  were  none  of  them  ne.irer  of  kin  than  uncles  or 
cousins.  A  man's  whole  kindred  were  his  brothers  and 
sisters:  and  this  ])robably  explains  the  mention  of  the 
brethren  and  sisters  of  Jesus.  Some  of  the  christian  fathers 
suggested  that  those  named  in  Matt.  XIII:  55,  James 
and  Joses  and  Simon  and  Judy  were  children  of  Joseph  by 
a  former  marriage.  This,  as  Dr.  Edersheim  has  shown, 
cannot  be  the  case.  Our  Lord  was  not  n  son  of  David, 
of  whom  probably  there  were  scores  or  hundreds,  but 
the  son  of  David  in  the  direct  line.  He  could  not  be  lawful 
heir  of  David  by  primogeniture  through  his  father  Joseph ; 
except  as  being  his  first  born  son,  which  he  was  beyond 
all  (jnestion.  He  stood  thus  in  the  line  of  direct  descent: 
and  Mary  was  the  only  wife  of  Joseph. 

We  find  in  the  Acts  and  Epistles  the  apostle  James  called 
the  I^ord's  brother .^.;The  two  Jameses  in  the  apostolate  were 
sons,  one  of  them  of  Zebedee,  and  the  othor  of  Alpheus:  and 
neither  of  them  brothers  literally  of  Jesus.  Alpheus  is  sup- 
posed by  many  to  be  identical  with  Cleopas;  whose  wife  Mar\- 
is.  mentioned  as  sister  of  the  virgin.  She  could  not  of  course 
haS'e  been  full  sistei',  and  bear  the  same  name,  Mar^'.  She 
was  her  relative,  perhaps  cousin :  and  the  apostle  James 
could  not  have  been  nearer  of  kin  to  Jesus  than  second 
cousin;  and  so  according  to  Hebrew  speech  his  brother. 

This  brief  review  appears  to  settle  it,  that  our  Lord  had 
no  real  biother.-^.  It  seems  probable  also  that  he  had  no 
sisters:  for  if  Marv  had   had  another  son  or  son-inJaw;  the 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOf'TRINAL.  57 

dying  Christ  would  not  have  committed  his  mother  to  the 
charge  of  the  apostle  John.  Some  have  supposed  that  as 
the  brothers  of  the  Savior  were  not  believers,  this  may  ac- 
count for  his  passing  them  by.  The  history  however  posi- 
tively states  that  they  had  become  Vjelievers  before  the  nota- 
ble pentecost,  and  likely  before  the  crucifixion;  so  that 
this  explanation  is  not  tenable.  The  conclusion  then  seems 
inevitable  that  he  was  the  only  child  of  his  parents.  This 
condition  isolates  him  perfectly ;  David's  direct  line  coming 
to  an  abrupt  termination  in  him :  after  Jesus  there  could 
be  no  direct  lineal  descendant  by  primogeniture  from  David. 
This  isolation  would  be  more  perfect,  if  Joseph  were  the 
only  son  of  Jacob:  and  Mar}-  Eli's  only  daughter.  This 
direct  descent  from  David  continued  till  the  advent  of  the 
promised  seed :  and  he  stands  designated  by  the  finger  of 
providence,  as  well  as  that  of  prophecy,  as  the  expected 
one,  upon  whose  shoulder  the  government  should  revert; 
and  upon  whom  the  hopes  of  the  world  should  center. 

The  destruction  of  their  genealogical  tables  begun  by 
Herod,  was  made  entire  by  the  Roman  war;  but  befojfe  it 
was  completed,  men  of  that  day.  who  had  every  opportu- 
nity of  genealogical  examination,  were  not  only  convinced 
of  his  regal  claim :  but  proclaimed  it  in  the  face  of  the 
nation:  and  the  bitterest  enemies  of  the  cross  never  denied 
it;  though  this  had  been  the  easiest  and  surest  method  of 
destroying  the  rising  sect.  The  pedigrees  of  descent  being 
preserved  with  a  more  than  religious  care,  nothing  could 
have  been  more  convincing  than  the  records  of  the  house 
of  David  produced  to  the  harm  of  Christianity.  Had  it 
been  yjossible,  it  would  have  been  done  without  fail.  It  is 
enough  for  us  to  know  that  it  never  was  attempted  even. 

His  parents  were  not  indeed  residents  of  David's  city; 
and  the  birth  took  place  while  thev  were  on  the  move  from 
Nazareth  to  Egypt :  and  after  a  stay  of  fort^'  days,  Joseph 
slipped  away  a  fugitive  by  night.  That  the  birth  occurred 
there  was  not  only  a  mattei-  of  record  in  the  Jewish 
tables;  but  it  was  likewise  recorded  in  letters  of  blood 
upon  living  tablets  and  broken  hearts. 

2  This  history  shows  that  Mary  was  not  allowed  to 
have  a  mother's  influence  over  her  son:  and  indeed  almost 


58  SKETCHES  FROM  THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

no  influence  at  all.  We  have  no  reason  to  believe  that  his 
ordinary  address  to  her  was,  "Woman."  There  was  re- 
proof in  the  word  unusual  upon  his  lips.  He  undoubtedly 
addressed  her  in  the  most  respectful  manner  usually ;  but 
now  there  is  an  altered  tone  as  well  as  altered  words.  She  was 
to  understand  at  once  the  difference  in  their  position.  From 
being*  the  most  obedient  child,  complying-  with  her  every 
wish,  listening  to  every  suggestion:  he  was  entering  upon 
his  public  career  as  the  Messiah,  in  which  he  was  to  suf- 
fer no  dictation,  and  tolerate  no  advice.  She  was  to  be 
no  longer  mother,  but  woman.  His  father's  business  here- 
after claimed  him  exclusivel3^  in  which  he  had  no  counsel- 
lor. "None  can  say  to  him  what  doest  thou?"  "He  will 
do  his  pleasure."  The  style  of  the  address  may  seem  to  us 
a  little  harsh;  but  it  was  no  rougher  than  was  needed  at 
the  very  outset  of  his  course :  that  she  might  not  presume 
upon  her  connection  with  him,  though  the  highly  favored 
among  women,"  to  whom  even  the  angel  of  the  annuncia- 
tion appeared  to  show  a  deference. 

Tl^s  annihilates  entirely  the  Catholic  figment,  that  Mary 
even  now  exercises  a  commanding  influence  over  her  son. 
A  little  farther  along  the  gospel  story,  we  come  to  a  time 
when  the  country  was  full  of  the  slander,  that  he  cast  out 
devils  by  Beelzebub;  and  that  himself  was  possessed  of  a 
devil.  It  was  at  this  time  that  Mark  tells  us  Ch.  IH; 
21;  "When  his  friends  heard  of  it,  they  went  out  to  lay 
hold  on  him;  for  they  said,  he  is  beside  himself."  They 
would  have  used  force  with  him ;  and  the  loving  and  anx- 
ious mother  doubtless  was  in  full  consent.  Not  being  able 
to  approach  him  for  the  press,  "they  sent  unto  him,  call- 
ing him.  And  the  multitude  sat  about  him  ;  and  they  said, 
thy  mother  and  thy  brethren  without  seek  for  thee.  And 
he  answered  them  saying:  who  is  my  mother  or  my  breth- 
ren?" He  would  hardly  have  spoken  thus,  if  his  mother 
had  not  been  carried  away  by  the  considerations  of  world- 
ly' policy  which  guided  his  unbelieving  brethren.  Her  ma- 
ternal solicitude  led  her  to  listen  to  counsels  utterly  un- 
worthy of  her  divine  son ;  and  his  refusal  to  see  her  was 
a  just  and  merited  reproof  of  her  unbelief.    How  infinitely 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  59 

below  the  standard,  her  feehngs  and  purposes  really  were; 
she  undoubtedly  realized  afterwards. 

In  all  that  we  know  about  Mary,  we  see  nothing  great 
or  extraordinary  in  her.  Her  faith  was  truly  remarkable 
at  the  time  when  she  received  the  angelic  visitation.  Not- 
withstanding the  difficulties  into  which  the  fulfilment  of 
his  words  would  bring  her,  she  believed  and  said:  "Be  it 
unto  me  according  to  thy  word."  But  in  her  magnificat 
we  hear  nothing  especially  sublime;  we  simply  hear  the 
unmeasured  astonishment  with  which  she  found  herself 
selected  as  the  "highly  favored"  mother;  herself  so  reduced, 
so  poor,  so  overlooked  by  the  rich  and  mighty. 

This  appears  to  be  almost  the  sole  thought  of  the  song; 
resembling,  indeed  Hannah's,  buh  not  shining  with  as  bril- 
liant flashes  of  true  poetry,  nor  exhibiting  a  soul  so  finely 
sensitive.  Had  she  been  carried  away  by  the  strongest 
emotions  of  the  wildest  poetry,  none  could  have  wondered ; 
but  the  whole  effusion  bespeaks  a  plain,  plodding  woman, 
to  whom  her  son  speaks  by  reproof  almost  harsh. 

That  the  idea  of  her  having  been  born  without  sin  should 
ever  have  been  entertained  in  the  professedly  Christian 
church,  is  simply  horrible.  But  houses  of  worship  stand  in 
cultivated  places  dedicated  to  the  immaculate  conception. 
We  hear  the  name  as  though  it  referred  to  the  one  concep- 
tion; but  if  we  remembered  what  the  designation  intends, 
the  words  would  not  be  suffered  to  pass  protestant  hps. 
If  idolatry  ever  intruded  into  the  temple  of  God,  and  set 
up  its  images  in  the  most  holy  place;  this  was  done  when 
the  apostate  church,  not  content  with  canonizing  sinful 
mortals,  and  making  them  authorized  intercessors  with 
God,  exalts  a  sinful  worm  of  the  dust  to  the  height,  on 
which  the  holy  Son  of  God  stands  alone  and  unapproach- 
able. The  strongest  proof  of  inborn  sinfulness  is  liability 
to  (suffering.  Let  all  men  judge  if  the  virgin,  whom  blas- 
phemy celebrates  as  thrice  holy,  was  exempt. 

This  mother  certainh^  had  no  influence  in  the  formation 
of  his  character,  for  she  utterly  failed  to  comprehend  him. 
Great  men  are  understood  to  derive  their  most  conspicuous 
traits  usually  from  the  mother's  individuality  first;  and 
then  from  mothers'  training,  who  almost  carry  the  destinies 


60  SKETCHES  FROM   THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

of  their  offsprino-  in  their  formative  nursing.  This  one  was 
run  in  no  human  mold,  ennobled  b}'  no  human  teaching  or 
example:  he  was  what  he  was  from  inward  forces,  that 
never  had  place  in  another-. 

Neither  had  the  spirit  of  the  age,  which  shapes  the  man 
in  every  case,  to  which  none  can  possibly  rise  superior, 
any  influence  in  determining  his  character.  The  spirit 
of  the  age  was  not  embodied  in  him ;  he  was  at  the  verj- 
antipodes  of  his  age.  Neither  had  Jewish  training  any 
share  in  the  production  of  one,  who  never  absorbed 
one  drop  of  the  gall  and  bitterness  of  Judaism.  No  forces 
in  existence  operated  in  his  production.  He  was  a  growth 
wholly  foreign  to  our  world.  Not  one  stain  of  the  evil,  with 
which  the  world  everywhere  abounds,  attached  to  him. 
"The  smell  of  the  fire  had  not  passed  upon  him."  Like 
the  pure  ray  of  light,  which  cannot  be  contaminated  by 
contact  with  filth,  he  was  pure  as  heaven's  light  ever  in 
this  pandemonium  of  iniquity. 

8.  It  is  proper  here  to  indicate  the  personal  peculiarities 
of  the  great  teacher,  as  far  as  we  can  gather  them  from  the 
accounts  remaining  of  him.  It  is  probable  that  he  was, 
in  bodily  appearance,  beautiful;  the  beau  ideal  of  humanity; 
that  everything  pertaining  to  his  physical  organization  and 
outward  appearance  was  faultless.  The  same  body  he  will 
carry  through  etei-nity ;  therefore  there  was  about  it  no 
defect,  no  disproportion,  nothing  offensive  to  the  eye  of  the 
most  fastidious  taste.  The  features  of  his  countenance 
were  exquisite,  doubtless :  but  there  is  a  far  higher  grade  of 
beauty  than  the  m'ereh'  physical.  Of  this  spiritual  beaut3' 
he  was  the  very  highest  model.  A  purity  and  moral  eleva- 
tion stamped  his  whole  pei-son  as  being  ''fairer  than  the 
childi-en  of  men.'*  If  low  and  base  passions  leave  their 
hideous  impress  upon  the  face  of  mortals;  and  make  the 
human  countenance  repulsive;  as  being  a  mere  nmsk  that 
conceals  much,  but  reveals  more;  if  character  writes  itself 
upon  the  outward  tablet;  we  may  justly  conclude  that 
all  about  him  corresponded  with  his  inward  perfection. 
Through  his  eyes  looked  a  soul  that  had  never  known  sin, 
a  spirit  in  which  was  no  guile,  and  which  was  in  uninter- 
rupted comnmnion   with  the  highest  glory,  and  full  of  the 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  61 

elevation  of  the  loftiest  themes.  The  countenance  of  clay 
Avas  but  a  thin  veil,  concealing-  yet  revealing  the  heavenly 
indweller.  His  humanity  was  the  enveloping-  globe  that 
softened  the  glare  of  the  too  bright  enclosed  light. 

That  a  personality  endowed  with  such  immeasurable  force 
should  have  been  destitute  of  facial  expression,  is  incredi- 
ble. The  irrepressible  movements  of  the  human  side  of  his 
person  recorded  themselves  on  features  mobile  and  plastic. 
Communion  with  the  holy  ones  made  the  countenance  of 
Moses  shine  for  a  season;  but  the  whole  person  of  Jesus 
had  been  luminous  ever,  as  on  the  Mount  of  Transfigura- 
tion, had  he  permitted  it.  Tf  the  light  and  the  glory  were 
not  manifested,  yet  the  beauty  was  there,  the  beauty  of  the 
soul,  the  beauty  of  holiness. 

On  this  occasion,  the  great  miracle  so  quietly  wrought, 
the  first  for  nearly  five  centuries,  fastened  the  attention  of 
all  present  upon  him ;  and  made  him  the  sole  object  of  re- 
gard. This  he  ever  was  in  every  company,  however  im- 
mense the  crowd.  All  eyes  turned  ever  upon  him;  and  he 
was  master  of  the  situation  always.  Not  a  word  that  he 
spoke  was  ever  lost;  and  each  had  the  power  of  fixing  it- 
self in  the  memory  beyond  any  example  known.  His  re- 
plies were  repeated  from  mouth  to  mouth,  until  they  were 
in  the  possession  of  assembled  millions  at  the  times  of  the 
great  feasts ;  and  no  one  had  eyes  or  ears  for  any  other 
object  than  to  observe  or  listen  to  him.  Such  conspicuous, 
ness  well  became  him  ;  for  an  inimitable  grace  was  in  every 
look  and  movement;  a  self-possession  more  perfect  than 
ever  seen  through  the  ages,  that  could  not  be  embarrassed 
by  an}"  possibilty,  made  him  serene  and  unmoved  in  the 
most  exciting  situations.  His  look  indicated  an  imperturba- 
ble repose  of  soul.  The  deep  calm  of  his  spirit  how  unlike 
the  unrest  of  ours,  tossing  ever  like  the  sea  casting  up  its 
mire  and  dirt!  In  no  one  respect  did  his  look  differ  more 
from  the  common  appearance  of  mortals,  than  in  this 
strange  and  ineffable  calmness  and  self-possession.  He  was 
solid  rock:  everyone  else  was  shifting  sand. 

He  was  never  taken  off  his  guard,  or  surprised  by  any 
sudden  attack.  Nothing  earthly  had  the  power  to  excite 
him :  the  offer  of  a  kingdom  could  not  produce  a  ripple 


62  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

in  the  still  waters.  So  he  was  never  at  a  loss,  never  con- 
fused, never  in  need  of  a  moment's  reflection.  His  answers 
were  immediate  always,  and  never  missed  the  mark.  They 
were  always  pre«:nant  with  personal  application,  that  could 
not  be  evaded:  but  forced  conviction  on  every  ^ainsayer. 
The  quickness  and  the  wisdom  of  his  replies,  amaze  us  at 
this  distance  of  time,  as  they  did  the  questioners.  Before 
him,  men,  whose  hearts  were  boiling  over  with  rage,  "held 
their  peace"  and  answered  not  again.  Such  a  mental  and 
spiritual  superiority  marked  him,  as  friends  and  enemies  in 
spite  of  themselves,  alike  were  forced  to  acknowledge. 

It  is  beyond  our  power  to  estimate  the  intensit3^  of  his 
chaTacter,  the  force  of  his  individuality,  his  power  of  im- 
pression. His  eye  could  subdue  a  man,  or  control  a  crowd' 
It  drove  Roman  soldiers  backward  to  the  ground,  broke 
the  heart  of  the  recreant  Peter  in  the  moment  of  its  great- 
est hardness,  and  made  the  highest  Jewish  rulers  afraid  to 
encounter  him.  And  no  one  ever  trifled  with  him,  or  in  his 
presence.  Mighty  crowds  before  him  observed  the  most 
perfect  decorum,  and  were  swayed  by  him  at  a  word.  No 
congregation  of  worshipers  in  the  temple  were  more  orderlj' 
or  quiet  than  those  assemblies  that  followed  him  to  the 
mountain,  to  the  seashore,  or  the  grassy  retreat.  At  his 
word  a  host  of  five  thousand  seated  themselves  in  ranks 
with  the  stilness  and  precision  of  mihtary  obedience.  His 
voice  was  easily  heard  through  a  press  of  man^^  thousands 
bv  every  individual  in  it;  and  all  the  highest  qualifications 
of  a  leader  were^n  him.  A  greater  than  Jonas,  a  wiser 
than  Solomon,  a  mightier  than  the  mightiest  of  the  prophets, 
he  moved  with  the  e\^e  of  the  nation  upon  him,  the  ob- 
served of  all  observers.  Such  greatness  was  compressed 
into  the  limits  of  our  feeble  humanity ;  that  the  very  won- 
derfulness  of  the  fact  almost  surpasses  belief. 

His  presence  at  a  marriage  festiA^al  is  demonstration,  that 
his  countenance  was  not  always  sad.  The  letter  of  a  pre- 
tended Lentulus  giving  a  description  of  him,  as  wearing  a 
gloom  of  continual  sadness,  as  often  weeping  but  never 
laughing,  is  a  forgery  of  the  middle  ages.  Religious  joy  is 
the  most  intense  of  all  species  of  happiness,  "a  well  of 
w'ater  springing  up  unto  everlasting  life,"  whose  origin  is 


HISTORICAL   AND  DOCTRINAL.  63 

too  deep  for  human  search.  It  is  as  far  removed  from 
frivolity  as  from  o^loom.  Himseh  was  "the  fountain  of  liv- 
ing waters,''  he  "had  meat  to  eat  that"  the  world  "knew 
not  of."  His  nature,  unlike  sinful  human  nature  in  which 
grief  is  rooted,  had  the  buoyancy  and  elasticity  of  perfect 
freedom  from  evil.  The  most  common  expi-essiou  of  ordi- 
nary countenances,  is  one  of  utter  indifference  to  others, 
or  of  disregard  approa(;hing  to  scorn :  every  one  about  the 
Nazarene  on  the  contrary,  realized  that  his  affection  em- 
braced them  in  its  warm  folds.  That  his  look  was 
marked  with  more  than  a  mother's  sympathy  for  each  in- 
dividual; and  that  a  divine  compassion,  was  so  conspicuous 
as  to  compel  the  notice  of  all  observers  is  matter  of  record. 
He  was  in  perfect  contrast  with  the  austerity  and  asceti- 
cism of  the  Baptist:  at  the  wedding  feast  he  shared  the 
innocent  pleasures  of  the  occasion;  nor  could  there  be  in- 
decorum or  excess  in  his  presence ;  even  iwere  the  wine 
wdiich  he  made  intoxicating,  which  it  is  not  necessary  to 
admit,  for  he  was  the  acknowledged  master,  in  whatever 
gathering  he  might  be.  The  infinite  happiness  of  the  di- 
vine being  arises  largely  from  giving,  from  the  communi- 
cation of  happiness  to  others.  The  dispensation  of  bless- 
ings on  every  hand  must  often  have  irradiated  the  face  of 
the  Savior  with  triumphant  satisfaction;  and  his  visible 
exultation  over  returning  penitents  could  not  be  concealed. 
Lv.  XY:  2.  Occasions  are  also  mentioned  on  which  his  joy 
overflowed.  His  presence  did  not  cast  a  gloom  over  the 
company  in  this  humble  home. 

With  all  these  marks  and  accompaniments  of  true  great- 
ness, he  was  the  most  condescending  of  persons.  He  could 
accommodate  himself  to  the  smallest  child;  indeed  he  was 
a  most  remarkable  lover  of  children.  The  simple,  unso- 
phisticated nature  of  childhood  everywhere  recognized  him. 
His  kindness  and  transparent  naturalness  won  the  heart 
of  childhood,  which  opened  to  him  as  the  flowers  do  to  the 
sun.  In  every  place  childhood  gathered  to  him  "as  the 
bosom  of  the  ocean  in  its  tide  swells  to  the  moon."  In  the 
little  infant  even,  the  shapeless  hump  of  humanity,  he  felt 
an  undissembled  interest;  though  the  disciples  forbade  the 
mothers'  approach;    and    nowhere    in  the  gospels  does  he 


04  SKETCHES  FROM   THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

touch  our  hearts  more  deeply,  than  iu  the  scene  where  he 
folds  them  in  his  arms,  and  blesses  them. 

Such  was  the  pei'sonage,  who  now  came  into  pubhc  view, 
manifestinji"  for  the  first  time  the  mysterious  power  which 
he  possessed,  to  a  company  of  peasants  of  Gallilee.  His 
])resence  jerraced  the  marriage  feast;  and  he  gave  it  the 
high  honor  of  his  first  miracle.  He,  Avho  was  to  bear  our 
griefs  and  carry  our  sorrows,  showed  that  he  sympathized 
with  the  joys  as  well  as  with  the  anguish  of  human  life. 
Wherever  he  was.  he  was  the  light  of  the  company,  the 
charm  of  the  listeners:  and  no  occasion  more  richly  merited 
his  presence  than  the  joyful  celebration  of  the  marriage  of 
the  3'oung.  The  first  benediction  recorded  in  the  old  tes- 
tament was  upon  a  wedded  pair  whom  God  blessed ;  and 
Jesus  hallowed  with  his  first  miracle  this  same  institution 
of  marriaji'e. 


HISTORICAL   AND    DOCTRINAL.  65 


CHAPTER   VII. 


A  SKETCH  OF  THE  MINISTRY. 


Jesus  of  Nazareth  was  altogether  the  most  striking-  char- 
acter of  the  age.  The  eyes  of  all  centered  upon  him.  The 
theatre  of  his  operations  was  indeed  limited;  but  Caesar 
upon  the  throne  of  the  world  commanded  far  less  attention 
from  those  within  the  compass  of  his  jjersonal  range. 
More  was  condensed  into  the  three  or  four  j-ears  of  the 
ministry,  than  oi'dinary  ages  could  hold.  These  years  were 
the  focal  point  not  only  of  the  world's  history;  but  of  the 
great  drama  of  eternity.  It  was  notorious  that,  while  the 
leaders  despised  the  prophet  of  Nazareth,  they  trembled  at 
him  in  their  hearts.  The  origin  and  growth  of  their  oppo- 
sition is  worthy  of  close  attention. 

I.  For  a  time  he  was  looked  upon  as  a  prophet  only;  his 
divinity  had  nideed  been  proclaimed  at  his  baptism;' but 
'Son  of  God'"  was  a  designation  capable  of  more  interpre- 
tations than  one.  The  tone  of  his  teachings  and  the  man- 
ner of  his  miracles  soon  suggested  its  true  definition ;  but 
on  any  point  of  strange  and  portentous  importance,  the 
human  mind  asks  time  for  reflection;  and  must  look  at  a 
question  on  all  sides,  in  order  to  mature  an  opinion.  It  was 
not  until  his  disciples  had  enjoyed  many  opportunities,  and 
seen  much  evidence,  that  he  asked  them  directly:  "Whom 
do  men  say  that  I  am.  and  whom  say  ye  that  I,  the  son 
of  man,  am?" 

Outside  of  their  own  number  none  appreciated  their  mas- 
ter as  the  Christ;  but  accounted  for  the  many  mighty 
works  by  the  theory,  that  he  was  one  of  the  old  prophets 
risen  from  the  dead.  The  disciples  had,  however,  seen 
enough  to  convince  them,  that  he  was  "the  Christ,  the  son 
of  the  living  God."  The  supreme  diviiuty  of  the  expected 
Messiah  was  a  matter  of  so  stupendous  import;  that,  how- 


66  JSKETCHES    FROM    THE    LIFE    OF   JE8US. 

evei-  clearly  revealed  in  the  Jewish  scriptures,  it  had  ceased 
to  be  an  article  of  Jewish  faith,  as  exceeding  the  bounds  of 
credibility:  and  was  not  inculcated  by  the  doctors  of  the 
law.  The  prejudices  of  education  had,  however,  been  re- 
moved in  the  minds  of  the  twelve  by  intimate  association 
with  their  master.  They  had  seen  that  he  was  peculiar; 
a  man,  indeed;  but  separate  from  men  by  a  chasm  of 
difference. 

He  was  peculiar  in  his  miracles.  Prophets  had  been  com- 
missioned to  perform  a  miracle  in  a  life-time,  or  at  great 
intervals  of  time.  "Many  lepers  were  in  Israel  in  the  time 
of  Eliseus:  but  none  of  them  was  cleansed,  saving  Naaman, 
the  Syrian."  Their  master  healed  all  that  had  need  of 
healing,  numbering  scores  in  a  day  often,  perhaps  hun- 
•dreds.  And  full  as  he  was  of  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God; 
yet  not  a  word  was  Hsped  by  him  implying  that  the  power 
which  he  exercised  was  not  his  own.  His  language  was 
often  "I  will."  In  addition  to  his  other  wonderful  works,  he 
forgave  sins ;  therein  assuming  an  authoi'ity  above  that  of 
the  immutable  law  of  God.  That  his  forgivness  removed 
the  sense  of  guilt,  was  evident  to  all,  who  observed  the  tears 
dry  at  his  word,  and  the  countenance  shine  with  the  glow 
of  a  benediction  from  above.  In  this  there  was  enough  to 
change  all  their  preconceived  notion^:  and  lead  them  to 
look  upon  him  as  the  son  of  God  in  the  full  sense  of  the 
word. 

Their  master  was  peculiar  in  his  teaching.  He  was  deliv- 
ei-iiig  no  message  from  a  higher  authority ;  himself  was  the 
fountain  of  wisdom.  His  whole  manner  declared:  "we  speak 
that  we  do  know,  and  testify  that  we  have  seen.'' 

He  was  peculiar  in  his  prayers.  He  was  a  man  of  prayer : 
but  oh,  what  prayers  he  offered!  He  made  no  confession  of 
sin,  expressed  no  self-condemnation,  implored  no  forgive- 
ness: and  his  prayers  were  answered  to  the  full  extent  of 
his  petitions,  and  on  the  instant.  Should  a  man  pray  in 
this  mnnuer,  he  might  expect  in  return  judgments  instead 
of  blessings.  Intimacy  with  such  a  being  gradually  wore 
away  all  their  former  conceptions;  and  prepared  them  most 
firmlv  to  confess  him  to  be  the  son  of  the  living  God. 


HISTORICAL   AND    DOCTRINAL.  67 

II.  General  opposition  to  him  may  be  dated  from  the 
time,  when  the  proofs  of  his  divinitj'  became  clear  and  un- 
deniable. These  claims  he  did  not  assert ;  nor  allow  his 
disciples,  or  those  who  had  received  benefits  from  him  to 
assert.  His  works  which  the  Father  had  given  him  to  do 
announced  him  as  distinctly  as  the  voice  from  Heaven. 
His  were  not  the  noisy  pretensions  of  an  impostor.  They 
were  too  solemn  for  ridicule,  which  is  the  incontrovertible 
weapon  of  the  people  against  all  nonsense.  Ridicule  was 
never  attempted  with  him.  The  facts  furnished  overwhelm- 
ing proofs  of  his  standing.  His  charge  was  "believe  not 
me;  but  believe  the  works.'",  He  sought  the  independent 
convictions  of  the  most  close  and  careful  scrutiny.  It  was 
impossible  to  receive  him  at  all  in  any  other  character 
than  divine.  He  was  either  loved  with  all  the  heart,  or  in- 
tensely hated;  he  was  either  worshipped  or  abhorred.  The 
opposition  kept  even  pace  with  the  demonstration  of  his 
divinity. 

While  in  every  respect  he  was  a  man,  he  was  yet  separate 
from  sinners,  as  the  heaven  is  higher  than  the  earth. 

All  men  are  liars.  It  does  not  take  a  thousand  lies  to 
make  a  liar.  The  sacred  lips  of  Jesus  were  never  polluted 
by  a  lie;  the  shade  of  deceit  never  darkened  his  counte- 
uance.     "In  his  lips  was  no  guile." 

All  men  are  haters;  murderers  in  heart.  Their  bosoms 
burn  with  malignant  passion.  Love  exists  in  the  human 
soul:  but  onh^  towards  friends :  and  them  it  does  not  love 
sufficiently  until  they  are  dead.  Jesus  was  all  love  to  friend 
and  foe.  His  eye  shone  with  heavenly  compassion  even  to 
his  murderers. 

He  was  all  purity.  Nev^er  had  a  blush  passed  over  those 
innocent  features;   of  shame  he  was  incapable. 

Before  him  there  was  no  place  for  hypocrisy.  To  deceive 
him  was  hopeless;  and  in  his  presence  self-deception  seemed 
impossible.  He  came  "that  the  thoughts  of  many  hearts 
might  be  revealed."  It  had  been  as  eas^^  to  hide  the  sun 
at  midday,  as  for  an  individual  to  avoid  the  light  of  the 
sun  of  righteousness.  All  before  him  stood  revealed  in  their 
nativ^e  colors;  sensible,  that  in  spite  of  themselves  every 
veil  was  torn  awav.    His  like  never  stood  on  earth;  before 


68  .SKETCHES   FROM   THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

whom  disguises  vanished,  and  all  efforts  at  concealment 
ceased.  A  character  mio-ht  be  assumed  before  him;  but  the 
mask  was  instantly  dropped ;  and  the  man  was  uncon- 
sciously betrayed  into  acting  his  true  self. 

There  never  was  a  more  perfect  development  of  real  human 
nature,  than  in  the  days  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  All  were 
constrained  in  some  wonderful  manner  to  cast  aside  their 
seeming,  and  to  act  their  i-eal  selves;  and  doubtless  many 
were  surprised  into  words  and  behavior  unaccountable  in 
their  own  view,  nevertheless  exhibiting  a  faithful  picture  of 
the  human  heart,  like  a  fiend  of  woe  gnashing  the  teeth  at 
the  view  of  unsullied  innocence  and  heavenly  love.  It  stands 
as  a  wonder  of  history,  that  there  was  a:  Judas. 

III.    The  land  rang  with  slanders. 

He  Wcis  scornfully  reported  to  be  a  "NRzarene."  That  he 
was  born  in  the  city  of  David  was  recorded  not  only  in  the 
genealogical  tablets,  but  in  the  blood  of  the  innocents. 

''He  is  H  gluttonous  man  and  a  wine-hibber.''  He  went 
wherever  he  was  invited,  to  the  table  of  friend  or  enemy. 
On  such  occasions,  some  of  his  most  interesting  and  forci- 
ble discourses  were  uttered.  The  sabbaths  were  feast-days 
with  the  Jews,  all  preparations  being  \nade  on  the  day  pre- 
vious. 

'He  receiveth  sinners  and  eateth  with  them.''  If  the  Mag- 
dalen became  a  saint  from  contact  with  him;  and  Zaccheus 
a  friend  of  the  poor:  theirs  was  a,  blessed  association. 

"//e  eateth  bread  with  unwashen  hands/'  Forbidden  by 
the  traditions,  not  by  the  word  of  God. 

"//e  keepeth  not' the  Sabbath  day.''  "Ought  not  this 
woman,  whom  Satan  hath  bound  these  eighteen  years,  to 
be  loosed  fi-om  this  bond  on  the  sabbath  day?"  It  is  the 
very  day  for  such  a  joyful  deliverance. 

"He  iorgiveth  sins.''  Those  who  received  the  blessing- 
were  able  to  testify.  The  absolution  of  a  priest  cannot  take 
away  the  sense  of  criminality. 

"Thou  maketh  thyself  God.''  Not  so.  \Miat  did  the 
woi'ks  declare? 

"He  hath  a  devil.''  In  this  way  they  accounted  for  the 
super-human  in  him.  They  saw  in  him  a  composure  that 
could  not  be  rutHed,a  compassion  that  could  not  beangej-ed. 


HISTOinCAL   AND    DOCTRINAL.  69 

a  .self-possession  that  no  sni'pHse  could  take  off  its  guard, 
a  peace  deep  and  unchangeable  as  a  river;  and  they  said: 
"He  hath  a  devil."    He  was  for  "a  sign  spoken  against." 

To  all  these  allegations,  the  Lord  paid  no  more  attention, 
than  to  the  accusations  made  before  Pilate  and  Herod. 
The  majesty  of  infinite  wisdom  was  in  all  his  conduct.  He 
employed  himself  in  going  over  all  the  cities  of  Israel  un- 
deterred bj'  clamor.  ''Who  is  blind,  but  my  servant,  or 
deaf  as  my  messenger  that  1  sent?''  Though  few  accepted 
him  in  his  true  character,  he  caused  a  deep  and  wide  sen- 
sation; and  his  enemies  well  understood,  that  a  leaven  in- 
fused by  him  was  silently  working,  whose  outcome  would 
be  the  overthrow  of  their  traditionalism;  the  substitution 
of  another  quality  of  service  in  .the  place  of  their  vain  and 
empty  formalism;  and  the  destruction  of  their  authority  as 
teachers  and  guides  of  the  people. 

IV.  The  rulers  began  to  feel  the  necessity  of  ruining  him, 
in  order  to  sustain  their  own  power.  They  supposed  them- 
selves abundantly  able  to  get  an  advantage  over  him  in 
the  conflict  of  wits;  their  aim  was  also  to  develop  a  charge 
against  him,  which  would  justify  them  in  denouncing  him 
to  the  Roman  governor  as  a  dangerous  person.  To  this 
work  they  deliberately  set  themselves,  on  the  o(;casion  of  his 
last  visit  ,to  Jerusalem;  sensible  that  the  crisis  of  destiny 
was  upon  them. 

He  had  entered  the  city  as  the  son  of  David,  claiming  the 
title  as  his  due.  Before  him,  when  he  entered  the  temple, 
the  sellers  of  sheep  and  oxen  and  the  changers  of  money, 
the  thieves  who  had  made  it  their  den,  had  fled.  He  made 
himself. lord  of  the  holy  house,  dismissed  the  guards,  as- 
sumed its  police  himself;  and  there  wrought  his  mighty 
works.  On  the  following  morning  he  was  met  by  an  im- 
posing array  of  the  chief  priests  and  elders  with  the  ques- 
tion: "by  what  authority  doest  thou  these  things?  and 
who  gave  thee  this  authority?'"  They  had  felt  his  author- 
ity to  that  degree,  that  the}'  had  not  rebuked  the  children 
in  their  Hosannas;  nor  were  able  to  stem  the  (current  of 
popular  feeling  sustaining  him. 

His  i-eply  utterly  confounded  them.  He  became  the 
questioner,  and  shut  them  up  to  a  full    admission  of  his 


70  SKETl'HKS   FKOM   THK    LIFE   OV  JESUS. 

anthority,  or  ji  (lisclaiiucr  of  .lolni  the  Baptist.  "1  will 
also  ask  you  one  thin<i\  which,  if  ye  tell  me:  I  in  likewise 
will  tell  yoii  by  what  authority  I  do  these  things.  The 
biiptisni  of  John,  whence  was  it?  From  heaven  or  of  men?" 
This  (juestion  brought  up  in  the  memory  of  all  the  vener- 
ated form  of  the  mighty  prophet  of  the  wilderness;  his 
singular  ordinance,  imposed  upon  all  his  adherents;  and 
his  positive  declaration  that  the  coming  Messiah  was  al- 
ready standing  among  them ;  and  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
was  the  one.  on  whom  the  centuries  had  waited.  The  mem- 
o\y  of  John  was  consecrated  in  the  hearts  of  the  people ; 
and  no  subjec^t  stiri-ed  their  souls  more  tenderly  than  his 
simple  name.  They  would  have,  stoned  to  death  at  once 
the  man  who  ])resumed  to  doubt  his  mission  or  his  testi- 
mony. The  enemies  were  forced  to  confess,  that  John  bore 
testimony  to  the  man  of   Nazareth. 

hi  their  next  assault  they  had  certainly  exhausted  all 
their  cunning  in  framing  the  attack.  So  certain  were  they 
of  entrapping  him,  that  they  accused  him  to  Pilate  as  for- 
bidding to  pay  the  tribute,  being  assured  that  in  his  posi- 
tion as  the  Son  of  David  he  could  do  no  less.  This  (piestion 
of  the  Roman  tribute  was  the  knottiest  question  of  Jewish 
casuistry.  Its  excessive  amount  and  its  merciless  collection 
stripped  the  temple  of  its  authorized  support;  and  drove 
the  priests  into  secular  callings.  The  conscience  of  the  de- 
vout Jew  was  deeply  exercised  over  it ;  and  terrible  upris- 
ings had  occurred  in  resistance  to  its  payment.  Not 
daring  to  appear  themselves,  the  priests  and  rabbis  sent 
their  disciples  as  conscientious  imjuirers,  who  voiced  the 
universal  .sentinient  when  they  said  :  '"Master,  we  know  that 
thou  art  true,  and  teachest  the  way  of  (Jod  in  truth.  Tell 
us  therefore,  what  thinkest  thou?  Is  it  lawful  to  give  tri- 
bute to  Ca'sar  or  not?  Shall  we  give'.'  Or  .^hall  we  not 
give?" 

His  answer  on  seeing  the  money  with  the  image  and  su- 
perscription of  Caesar  upon  it,  "Render  therefore  unto 
Ta'sar  the  things  which  are  Cjvsar's,"  was  con«'lusive.  Von 
acknowledge  subjection  to  Oesar  by  using  his  money; 
therefore  pay  the  tt'ibute  he   requires. 


HIISTORlCAI>   AND   DOCTICINAI..  71 

Further,  the  stamp  of  Gotr.s  ownership  is  on  fill  that  he 
has  made;  his  imaj^e  is  impressed  upon  the  souls  and 
l>odies  of  his  creatures:  and  the  superscription  of  his  rig:ht 
and  title  to  their  service  and  affection  is  le<i,ib]e,  written 
on  every  heart.  The  debt,  which  men  owe  to  God  tlieir 
maker,  is  prior  to  all  others;  and  the  tribute  which  he  re- 
(juires  is  enforced  by  a  claim  superior  to  all  others.  Men 
demand  what  is  their  rightful  due;  and  shall  not  God? 
"Render  unto  God  the  things  which  are  (iod's.*'  "And  they 
marveled  at  him,  and  held  their  peace." 

The  beauty  of  his  replies  consists  in  that,  while  the  hearts 
of  his  antagonists  were  full  of  debate,  and  their  lips  ready 
to  overflow  with  objection,  it  was  not  possible  to  utter  a 
word  in  answei'.  His  rejoinders  were  instant,  and  offered 
without  a  moment's  reflection;  and  unanswerfibly  deter- 
mined the  matter,  and  cut  off  all  debate. 

His  resolution  of  the  standing  difficulty  of  the  Sadducean 
sect  was  equally  luminous  and  conclusive.  He  pi-oved  to 
them  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  and  the  resurrection  of 
the  body,  from  God's  own  woi'ds  spoken  out  of  the  burning 
bush:  "I  am  the  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God  of  Isaac, 
and  the  God  of  Jacob."  Abraham  had  at  the  time  been 
dead  four  hundi-ed  years.  "God  is  not  the  God  of  the 
dead'':  therefore  Abraham  still  lives,  an  undying  spii'it;  and 
in  due  time  will  take  jjossession  of  the  resurrected  body;  both 
of  which  united  constitute  the  man.  "All  live  unto  him," 
the  irreat  creator.  All  are  under  supreme  obligations  to 
seek  his  honor  and  glory  in  every  act,  even  the  smallest. 
Eating  and  drinking  not  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  appe- 
tite, so  much  as  to  glorify  him  the  Lord  of  all. 

The  question  of  the  scribe:  "Master,  which  is  the  great 
commandment  of  the  law?"  was  answered  in  a  manner  that 
carried  conviction  with  it.  No  command  of  circumcision, 
tithing,  or  Sabbath-keeping  can  compare  in  obligation  with 
the  command  to  love  God  with  a  love  i-eal,  genuine,  sin- 
cere, supreme,  and  unending. 

His  enemies  "were  gathered  together"  against  him;  foiled 
as  they  had  been  in  all  their  attempts  to  ensnare  him, 
they  <-ould  not  leave  him  :  sensible,  that  in  that  struggle 
their  rule  and  authoritv  were  at  stake.     Thev    wei-e   there 


72  SKETCHES    FROM    THE   LIFE   OF  JEST'S. 

in  a  body  before  him:  and  in  his  turn,  he  became  the 
qnestionei-.  His  question  respected  his  own  claims  :  "'What 
think  ye  of  the  Christ?  Whose  son  is  he?""  ''The  son  of 
David."  Wh3^  then  doth  David  in  spirit  call  him  Lord?" 
''If  then  David  call  him  Lord,  how  is  he  his  son?" 
They  could  not  answer  without  admitting  all  he  claimed. 
"No  man  was  able  to  answer  him  a  word  ;  neither  durst 
any  man  from  that  day  forth  ask  him  any  questions." 
The  (juickness  and  conclusiveness  of  his  replies  cutting  off 
all  rejoinder,  filled  the  listeners  with  amazement. 

Here  was  a  complete  triumph  of  truth  and  innocence  ovei- 
intrigue  and  subtlety.  Authority  respected  for  ages  was  in 
danger  of  being  overthrown.  Respect  for  the  rulers  and 
confidence  in  their  judgment  was  disappearing  like  morn- 
ing mists.  The  foundations  of  their  ascendency  were  being- 
shaken.  An  obscure  and  despised  teacher  was  demolishing 
the  supersti'ucture,  which  their  class  had  been  erecting  with 
long  effort. 

But  this  was  not  all.  He  not  only  foiled  their  assaults ; 
but  while  they  stood  speechless  and  cowering  before  him. 
he  uttered  the  discourse  preserved  to  us  in  Matt,  xxiii : 
the  most  severe  ever  delivered.  He  pronounced  against 
them  eight  solemn  woes,  which  must  have  sounded  to  them 
like  trumpets  of  doom,  exposing  the  folly  and  wickedness 
of  their  teachings.  The  hearts  of  the  people  were  with  him  ; 
they  hung  upon  his  lips;  drank  in  every  word:  and  were 
completely  swayed  by  him,  Had  lie  said  like  Elijah  of  old, 
"take  them  alive,  let  not  a  man  of  them  escape";  had  he 
evt-n  demanded  thei*  blood :  his  behest  might  not  have  been 
refused.  He  was  irresistible  as  an  anointed  king.  Fear,  as 
well  as  hatred,  from  this  moment  rendered  his  enemies  des- 
perate and  implacable. 

Had  he  at  this  critical  ])oint  assumed  kingly  power; 
the  multitude  might  with  their  own  hands  have  put  away 
his  op})Osers:  but  at  this  most  favorable  juncture,  when 
his  enemies  were  in  his  power  and  trembling  in  apprehen- 
sion of  his  next  step,  he  declined  all  destructive  measures: 
and  was  content  with  exposing  their  wickedness.  It  was 
the  same  Jesus  who  could  weep  and  condemn.  The  multi- 
tude saw  with  the  plainest  demonstration,  that  the  policy 


HISTORICAL    AND    DOCTKINAT..  73 

of  kings  was  not  the  rule  of  his  conduct:  that  he  would 
never  step  to  a  throne  tlirough  blood :  or  wrest  a  sceptre 
by  violence.  As  he  said  to  Pilate:  "If  my  kingdom  were 
of  this  world:  then  would  my  servants  have  fought:  but 
now  my  kingdom  is  not  from  hence.'' 

V.  The  chief  priests  and  elders  saw  that  the  onl^'  way 
remaining  to  them  to  destroy  him,  was  by  violence:  and 
they  hesitated  not  at  the  dreadful  determination.  His 
miracles  were  more  glorious  than  ever;  he  was  undisputed 
master  of  the  temple,  and  of  the  confidence  of  the  people: 
and  they  came  to  the  dire  resolution,  as  they  could  not 
contend  with  him  openly,  to  compass  his  arrest  before  he 
left  the  city ;  but  not  until  the  feast  was  passed,  and  the 
people  Avere  dispersing  to  their  homes. 

The  disciples  saw  that  a  deadly  contest  was  approaching: 
that  it  would  be  a  strife  for  authority  and  influence  and 
even  life;  they  saw  that  the  rulers  were  tremendously  ex- 
cited ;  but  that  their  master  was  perfectly  calm :  and  they 
were  not  afraid.  They  were  secure  that  he  w^ould  triumph 
to  the  end.  They  had  seen  the  elements  bow  befoi-e  him, 
and  diseases  flee  at  his  word;  and  they  were  not  afraid.  He 
had  l)een  preserved  from  the  sword  of  Herod :  from  the 
rage  of  the  men  of  Nazareth;  he  had  passed  through  a 
crowd  that  had  stones  in  their  hands,  and  murder  in  their 
hearts;  and  as  he  passed  each  man,  the  stone  dropped 
from  his  hand:  and  they  feared  not;  but  that  he  would 
still  be  preserved.  The}^  had  seen  the  greatest  men  in  the 
nation  quail  before  him :  officers  deputed  to  arrest  him  de- 
cline the  service :  and  they  were  not  afraid.  They  knew  that 
even  if  a  hostile  hand  were  raised  against  him :  one  look 
could  make  an  enemy  a  friend:  and  they  were  not  afraid. 
They  knew  that  his  single  word  was  stronger  than  legions 
of  angels:  and  they  were  not  afraid.  It  never  entered 
their  thoughts  that  he  could  die,  before  Israel  was  deliv- 
ered. They  had  not  attended  to  his  repeated  predictions, 
that  he  should  die. 

The  positions  of  the  two  parties  respectively  was  this. 
The  rulers  had  consented  to  his  ascendency  during  the  eight 
days  of  the  feast,  as  they  were  powerless  to  prevent  it; 
but,  as  soon  as  the  feast  was  over,  their  most  determined 


74  SKETCHES   FROM    THE   LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

purpose  was,  that  he  should  die.  They  could  hardly  wait 
the  time,  or  endure  the  rage  that  drove  sleep  from  their 
eyes,  until  their  object  was  attained.  The  friends  of  Jesus 
had  no  organization,  or  policy,  or  strength  or  head  but 
himself;  and  in  him  they  were  secure  and  had  no  fear  for 
the  result.  At  this  juncture  the  unexpected  opportunity 
offered  to  the  rulers  of  taking  him  by  the  treachery  of  one 
of  his  disciples. 

VI.  He  actually  suffered  himself  to  be  taken  at  the  dead 
hour  of  night  by  foes  with  lanterns,  and  torches,  and 
weapons.  In  addition  to  this  surprise,  his  whole  appear- 
ance had  undergone  an  unaccountable  change.  His  com- 
posure, which  nothing  had  ever  been  able  to  disturb,  had 
quite  forsaken  him.  Three  of  his  friends  had  heard  him 
pray  as  he  had  never  prayed  before  with  unutterable 
groanings ;  they  had  seen  by  the  light  of  the  moon  his  face 
pale  with  more  than  human  agony ;  yea,  even  his  raiment 
was  marked  by  stains  of  perspiration  that  looked  more 
like  blood ;  and  he  seemed  to  be  sinking  into  an  abyss  of 
horror. 

When  he  was  troubled,  their  strength  was  gone;  when  he 
failed,  to  them  all  was  lost.  True,  a  celestial  visitor  had 
hovered  over  the  prostrate  form  in  the  garden;  true,  his  look 
had  smitten  the  soldiers  to  the  ground ;  his  touch  had 
healed  the  wound  of  Malchus:  but  he  was  taken,  and  did 
not  deliver  himself.  But  what  was  most  remarkable  was 
the  deep  anguish  and  horror,  which  had  engrossed  him. 
He  was  overwhelmed  with  a  mental  suffering,  which  was  to 
his  disciples  an  ihexplicable  phenomenon.  Had  he  only 
borne  his  usual  look  of  contidence  and  strength:  the  cour- 
age of  his  friends  had  not  sunk,  as  it  did. 

It  was  to  them  a  night  of  fearful  temptation.  What  could 
account  for  that  nameless  agony  which  their  master  endured? 
was  he  an  importer  in  league  with  Satan,  whom  God  had 
permitted  for  a  season;  but  had  now  forsaken?  The  ene- 
m}'  of  souls  made  all  the  capital  possible  out  of  the  change 
in  the  appearance  of  their  trusted  lord,  and  his  apparent 
weakness  and  failure;  and  cast  his  fiery  darts  to  destroy 
their  faitli.  The  most  painful  thoughts  agitated  their 
bosoms:   and   as  soon  as  they  had   seen  him  taken  under 


HISTORICAL   AND    DOCTRINAL.  75 

such  a  load  of  auguish  as  oppressed  him;  his  disciples  for- 
sook him  and  fled.     "They  were  offended  because  of   him." 

One  of  them,  or  perhaps  two,  however,  followed  to  the 
hig:h  priest's  house,  with  the  still  lingering  hope,  that  the 
scene  might  be  changed;  but  there,  the  scorn  and  hatred 
shown  were  so  overwhelming,  that  the  boldest  of  the  twelve 
denied  with  oaths  and  curses,  that  he  had  ever  known  the 
man.  Another  disciple  stood  on  Calvary  with  the  aged 
mother  leaning  on  his  arm;  but  he  stood  there  only  to  see 
the  victim  die.  He  had  been  condemed  with  insults  unpar- 
alled  before,  and  nailed  to  a  Roman  cross  amid  a  roar  of 
blasphemy. 

Perhaps  in  this  disciple  the  hope  still  hngered,  that  the 
innocent  suffererer  might  disappoint  his  enemies;  but  he 
died.  John  waited  after  he  apparently  died.  The  thing- 
was  placed  beyond  a  doubt.  He  saw  a  rude  soldier,  to  make 
assurance  doubly  sure,  strike  his  sunken  and  unprotected 
side  with  a  spear-thrust  that  i-eached  to  the  heart,  and 
spilled  his  very  heart's  blood;  true,  there  were  terrible  sights 
and  sounds  from  opening  tombs,  and  riven  rocks,  and  a 
trembling  earth;  the  heavens  Avere  black  without  a  cloud; 
but  there  was  no  deliverance.  He  died;  the  hope  of  Israel 
died.    His  enemies  had  triumphed  in  the  decisive  houi-. 

Had  not  God  watched  the  body,  it  might  have  been 
dragged  in  wantom  insult  through  the  streets  of  Jerusa- 
lem; but  he  terribly  protected  it;  not  a  bone  was  broken; 
it  was  not  cast  out. 

This  was  evidently  the  decisive  point  in  the  minds  of 
enemies  and  friends:  if  he  is  overcome,  he  cannot  be  the 
Messiah;  nothing  can  more  certainly  settle  the  question. 
The  sympathies  of  the  people  had  for  a  time  been  with  the 
Nazarene;  but  when  they  saw  him  bound  unresisting,  whom 
they  had  looked  upon  as  the  possible  Messiah,  and  even 
dying,  seemingly  forsaken  of  God  and  man;  like  the  disciples, 
"they  were  offended  because  of  him:'"  a  mighty  revulsion  of 
popular  feeling  followed  his  arrest. 

Vn.  But  the  drama  was  not  yet  concluded.  On  the  third 
day  at  early  dawn,  an  earthquake  disturbed  guilt\  Jerusalem. 
The  Roman  guards  around  the  sepulchre  had  been  thus  far 
uninterrupted  in  their  watch:  but  suddenly  a  supernatural 


76  SKETCHES  FROM    THE    LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

light  gleamed  uiioii  their  armor:  and  a  terrible  angel  was 
in  their  midst,  whose  <'ountenance  was  like  lightning,  whose 
raiment  was  white  as  snow,  and  the  touch  of  whose  foot 
npon  the  ear-th  had  made  it  tremble.  The  dismayed  sol- 
diers saw  the  stone  njove  to  the  wave  of  his  hand;  the 
tomb  open;  and  had  no  eyes  for  any  other  sight.  Every- 
thing else  was  forgotten  in  the  palsy  of  fear;  and  every 
flash  of  the  spirit  eyes  made  their  hearts  stand  still. 

Though  the  ])riests  denied  the  resurrection  of  Jesus,  and 
the  whole  case  turned  upon  this  issue;  yet  they  could  not 
produce  the  body;  though  it  had  been  safely  kejit  in  a 
chamber  of  rock,  under  a  military'  guard.  The  purpose  of 
the  rulers  evidently  had  been  to  exhibit  the  body  on  the 
third  day.  confound  the  desciples,  disabuse  the  woi-ld,  and 
crush  the  rising  sect  at  once.  All  yet  accomplished,  the 
crucifixion  of  the  leader,  the  scattering  of  the  disciples, 
would  be  of  no  avail,  without  the  exhibition  of  the  corpse- 
The  third  day  came,  and  instead  of  having  the  body  in 
their  possession ;  the  tale  was  circulated  that  it  had  been 
stolen,  in  spite  of  all  their  precautions;  by  whom  was  un- 
certain: The  dispirited  disciples  became  bolder  than  lions, 
filled  Jerusalem  with  their  doctrine,  and  charged  the  rulers 
with  having  slain  their  own  Messiah.  Multitudes  believed 
them,  and  embi-aced  Christianity  in  a  way  decisive  of  the 
fact  of  the  resurrection. 

The  rulers  were  afraid  to  touch  the  men  who  brought 
this  charge  against  them ;  and  accepted  the  counsel  to  let 
them  alone.  The  potter's  vessels  had  dashed  against  the 
rock. 

VIII.  In  the  light  of  this  event,  the  diseiples  saw,  that 
their  master  had  not  been  overcome.  His  enemies  had  but 
accomjilished  the  divine  purposes.  So  utterl}^  dejected  how- 
ever were  the  twelve;  that  their  slowness  to  believe  his  res- 
urrection seems  to  us  as  strange  as  their  previous  treach- 
ery. They  seem  to  have  given  him  up  almost  entirely. 
Unbelief,  like  the  ]jalsy  of  death,  had  settled  upon  them; 
so  that  they  listened  unheeding  to  the  reports  of  his  aj)- 
pearance.  AVhen  compelled  to  admit  the  fact,  the  revulsion 
in  their  minds  was  from  the  extreme  of  depression  to  the 
enthusiasm  of  courage.     They  recalled  his  predictions :  with 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTKINAL.  77 

new  lioht  they  searched  the  Scriptures;  the3'  learned  tlie 
necessity'  and  nature  of  his  atonement :  and  their  zeal  could 
not  be  damped  by  the  fear  of  death  itself. 

The  views  of  the  twelve  wei-e  never  clear  respecting  the 
work  of  the  redeemer,  until  the  whole  drama  was  enacted; 
and  the  cross  cast  its  light  over  the  whole  course  of  his 
life. 

Such  is  a  brief  epitome  of  the  gospel  story,  to  the  details 
of  wliicli  attention  now  turns. 


78  SKETCHES  FROM   THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 


CHAPTER  YIII. 


THE  EXPULSION  OF  THE  TRADERS  FROM  THE  TEMPLE. 


This  was  the  only  occasion  on  which  our  Lord  assumed 
executive  authority.  This  act  was  really  the  introduction 
of  the  ministry.  He  attended  but  two  })assovers  at 
Jerusalem  during  his  ministry;  and  on  each  visit  he  purged 
the  sacred  edifice  from  the  traffic,  licensed  by  those  who 
had  it  in  their  charge.  That  the  cleansing  occurred  but 
twice,  is  sufficient  proof  that  he  was  not  oftener  present  at 
the  passovers.  He  ''suddenly  came  to  his  temple;"  indeed 
his  appearance  before  the  Jewish  nation  was  sudden  as  the 
falling  of  a  flaming  meteor  from  the  sky.  The  population 
of  Bethlehem  ma3^  have  been  often  scanned  with  a  view  to 
the  discovery  of  the  coming  man;  but  none  ever  looked  to 
Nazareth.  The  inhabitants  of  that  town  themselves  never 
suspected  that  Jesus  was  other  than  the  son  of  Joseph :  his 
mother  had  kept  her  own  cherished  secrets  still.  The  scene 
of  the  baptism  by  John  was  a  surprise  and  a  revelation  to 
all.  For  the  first  time  in  the  world's  history  a  window  had 
been  opened  in  heaven:  and  a  light  not  of  the  sun  had 
s'lone  from  the  \yorld  of  glory;  and  the  voice,  silent  since 
Sinai,  had  announced  the  presence  of  the  one  in  whom  God 
is  well  pleased ;  that  one  was  the  Nazarene. 

This  present  was  his  first  approach  to  the  hoh^  city  in 
.his  new  character:  and  naturally  the  deepest  interest  was 
felt  in  all  his  movements  there.  He  came  with  the  prestige 
of  the  heavenly"  recognition ;  the  rumor  of  the  miraculous 
powers  exhibited  at  Capernaum  had  also  preceded  him : 
and  the  assembled  nation  looked  with  liveliest  expectations 
for  developments.  The  attitude  of  the  Jewish  mind  was 
favorable  to  him:  and  whatever  he  might  do,  he  was  cer- 
tain of  no  opposition.  The^'  believed  in  him ;  and  with 
breatiiless  concern  awaited  his  action. 


HISTORICAL    AND   DOCTRTXAL.  79 

Fi'om  tlie  first  and  throiijo-li  his  whole  fourse.  the  pre- 
domina.nt  feeling  towards  him  in  the  minds  of  all  was  fear. 
He.  who  had  control  of  disease  and  death,  who  had  the 
forces  of  nature  subservient  to  his  order,  had  the  power- 
to  inflict  as  well  as  to  heal.  None  would  hastily  array 
themselves  ag-ainst  the  supernatural.  His  short  ministry 
would  have  been  violently  terminated  long  before  it  was ; 
had  it  not  been  for  this  fear  of  him.  Often  hands  would 
have  been  laid  upon  him,  but  for  this  restraint.  His  ene- 
mies waited  long  and  schemed  persistently  to  destroy  his 
influence  without  assailing  himself  by  violence.  The  Naza- 
renes  feared  to  cast  him  headlong  from  their  hill;  the  gaiii- 
sayers  in  Jerusalem  with  stones  in  their  hands  hesitated 
to  throw  them ;  the  officers,  whose  errand  it  was  to  seize 
him,  still  failed  of  their  purpose:  and  they  never  dared  to 
attempt  his  arrest  in  the  light  of  day;  but  only  in  the 
midnight  and  with  men  enough  for  some  })erilous  enter- 
prise. This  fear  in  undiminished  influence  held  every  soul 
at  the  time  of  this  beginning  of  his  course  in  Jerusalem. 
The  assembled  nation  waited  on  him.  Though  our  knowl- 
edge of  the  details  of  his  procedure  in  this  case  is  exceed- 
ingly limited,  yet  this  cleansing  of  the  hoi}'  house  is  one 
of  the  great  landmarks  of  his  ministry,  being  its  real  com- 
mencement before  the  assembled  nation :  and  as  such  merits 
particular  notice. 

The  only  place  in  the  city,  which  offered  attractions  for 
him,  was  the  house  where  God  had  set  his  name,  which 
possessed  a  sanctity  never  participated  but  by  Sinai  at  the 
time  of  the  theophany:  now  however  subject  to  gross  pro- 
fanation, by  consent  of  its  appointed  guardians.  A  regu- 
lar market,  held  at  times  within  the  very  walls  of  the  holy 
court,  had  become  an  established  institution.  A  devout 
attendant  upon  the  temple  service  on  the  days  of  traffic, 
could  not  fail  to  be  intensely  annoyed  by  the  incessant 
lowing  of  oxen,  and  bleating  of  sheep  confined  in  places 
strange  to  them,  and  in  the  midst  of  surroundings  as 
strange,  coupled  with  the  voices  of  traders  and  customers 
necessarilv  shouting  out  loudly  the  hagglings  of  trade. 

Amid  the  continuous  ba,bel  of  sounds,  a  devout  and  in- 
telligent worship  was  impossible.    The  whole  solemnity  was 


80  SKETCHES    FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   .JES[S. 

changed  into  a  mere  niuinmei-y ;  and  the  holy  ])lace  was 
disgraced  by  a  struggle  for  gain  more  dishonoring,  than 
was  permitted  in  any  heathen  fane.  The  worship  of  mam- 
mon was  silencing  the  worship  of  Jehovah.  This  traffic 
had  monopolized  the  court  of  the  (lentiles:  and  no  foreigner 
of  Gentile  blood  could  possibly  make  an  attempt  at  wor- 
ship in  the  purlieus  appropriated  to  such.  It  is  known  that 
such  liberties  were  not  taken  with  the  holy  house  until  the 
accession  of  Annas  to  the  high  piiesthood ;  and  that  he 
schemed  to  re])lenish  his  own  resources  by  such  simony. 
It  was  however  a  great  public  scandal  and  grief  of  heart 
to  those,  who  still  retained  a  regard  for  sacred  things;  and 
such  wei-e  still  a  large  class. 

When  our  Loi-d  entered  the  sacred  precincts :  and  his  ears 
were  saluted  with  this  turmoil  of  man  and  beast;  and  he 
beheld  the  defilement  of  the  consecrated  space;  he  was  at 
once  roused  to  a  zeal  that  allowed  no  hesitation.  Offences 
against  himself  awakened  no  such  indignation;  but  in- 
fringements of  his  Father's  house  or  day  stirred  him  to  a 
speedy  interference.  His  *'fury  came  up  into  his  face,"  and 
his  zeal  transformed  the  very  appearance  of  his  person.  He 
assumed  at  once  an  air  of  overwhelming  prerogative;  and 
his  form  became  worthy  of  an  imperial  jurisdiction.  A  new 
light  shone  in  his  eyes,  and  a  consciousness  of  most  inti- 
mate relation  to  the  great  being  so  dishonored,  revealed 
itself  in  his  countenance. 

Arming  himself  with  a  small  scoui-ge,  to  be  used  on  the 
animals  only,  rei>"ardless  of  the  numbers  to  be  encountered, 
and  the  authority:*  behind  them,  he  at  once  proceeded  to 
abate  the  nuisance.  What  rendered  this  trade  more  odious 
still,  was  the  extortion  practiced  by  both  bi-okers  and 
venders  of  animals,  who  charged  excessively  for  the  ex- 
change of  money  and  for  animals  bearing  the  stamp  of  the 
priestly  inspector,  as  being  without  blemish,  nnd  suitable 
for  sacred  use. 

To  effect  the  ex])ulsion  of  this  trade  was  no  small  under- 
taking. The  temple  area  comprised  nine  acres  of  ground 
by  modern  nxMSurement  of  remaining  foundations,  nearly 
one-half  of  which  (constituted  the  court  of  the  gentiles. 
More  than   a    (juarter  million   of    lambs   were  re(iuired   for 


HISTORICAL   AND    DOCTUIXAI..  SI 

each  passover,  which  weie  disposed  of  from  the  tenth  to 
the  fourteenth  day  of  the  month,  making  sixty  thousand 
sales  per  day,  a  large  portion  of  whic-h  took  place  in  this 
court,  besides  sales  of  bullocks,  doves  and  young  pigeons. 
If  each  flock  of  one  hundred  lambs  had  its  kee])er.  the 
number  of  men  engaged  was  not  small. 

The  account  of  our  Lord's  proceeding  is  so  succint,  that 
we  hardly  have  material  to  picture  the  scene;  but  of  some 
particulars  we  are  apprised. 

1.  He  accomplished  the  purgation  alone,  unaided.  He 
had  no  accomplices  to  co-operate  iu  a  simultaneous  attack 
upon  the  animals,  to  drive  them  out  by  force  or  by  strategy. 
His  disciples  stood  by  in  silent  astonishment,  and  merely 
witnessed  the  procedure.  "Of  the  people,  there  was  none 
with  him;''  no  one  assisted  more  than  they  did  at  the 
raising  of  Lazarus,  or  when  he  gave  eyes  to  the  man  born 
blind.  Indeed,  he  did  not  address  himself  to  the  animals 
chieiiy;   but  to  the  men  in  charge  of  them. 

2.  It  was  effected  without  violence  or  tumult.  No  effort 
was  made  to  stampede  the  flocks  to  their  serious  injury ; 
as  would  have  resulted,  if  droves  of  sheep  by  tlie  thousand, 
with  cattle  intermixed,  had  been  rushed  in  mass  through 
the  gates.  The  riddance  was  effected  with  deliberation  and 
without  such  haste  as  to  threaten  damage.  There  was  no 
pell-mell  discharge.  Not  a  lamb  was  injured,  not  a  dove 
released.  The  actor  did  not  put  on  the  frenzy  of  a  mad- 
man, oi-  assume  the  prophetic  fury,  or  employ  any  tactics, 
whose  audacity  might  surprise  the  keepers  into  compliance. 
The  history  is  sufficiently  explicit  to  show,  that  he  pro- 
ceeded with  due  regard  to  the  safet}^  of  the  property,  and 
the  consent  of  those  entrusted  with  it.  The  scripture  was 
still  fulfilled,  "he  shall  not  strive,  nor  cry,  neithei'  shall  any 
man  hear  his  voice  in  the  street.'"  No  unnecessary  demon- 
stration attended  the  performance.  His  works  were  all 
wrought  with  the  smallest  possible  appeal  to  public  notice. 
This  work  was  carried  ouc  with  the  same  quiet  but  irre- 
sistible efficiency;  and  could  but  have  been  hailed  by  the 
devout  as  a  sign  of  the  returning  vitality  of  their  religion. 

3.  It  was  executed  in  the  most  high  handed  and  sum- 
mary manner.    It  is  to  be  supposed,  that  in  some  way  not 


82  SKETCHES  FROM   THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

related,  lie  secured  the  attention  of  the  crowd,  and  made 
proclamation  of  his  purpose.  His  voice  had  a  tone  to 
penetrate  thiough  an  audience  of  tens  of  thousands.  His 
appearance  must  have  produced  a  sensation.  His  presence 
ahvays  seemed  to  bring  God  nearer,  and  to  invest  the  dim 
and  shadowy  conceptions  of  him  with  a  living  reality. 
None  beholding  him  could  divest  himself  of  a  strangely  in- 
creased sense  of  accountability  to  God.  Now  he  rose  to 
the  emergency  with  a  demeanor,  which  brought  to  their 
remembrance,  that  Jehovah  had  never  suffered  his  court  to 
be  defiled  with  impunity;  and  that  terrible  judgments  had 
avenged  such  audacity;  the  records  of  which  in  their  own 
scriptures  came  with  terrifying  force  back  to  their  treach- 
erous memory,  and  overcame  them  with  alarm.  His  words 
were  as  arrows  from  the  quiver  of  the  Almighty  shot  out. 
It  was  not  so  much  what  he  said,  as  what  the  voice  from 
heaven  had  proclaimed;  and  what  they  saw  in  him.  There 
are  not  lacking  instances,  in  which  men's  consciences  have 
suddenly  awakened  from  deadl3^  slumber  in  a  moment, 
under  the  influence  of  some  fearful  portent,  or  imminent 
peril ;  and  at  a  single  flash  as  it  were  from  the  judgment 
seat,  transgi-essors  have  been  made  to  tremble  under  the 
mighty  Jiand  of  God.    It  was  so  when  Jesus  spoke. 

Passing  first  to  the  brokers"  row  he  hurled  their  tables 
in  succession  to  the  pavement,  scattering  the  rolling  coins 
in  all  dii-ections.  He  manifested  a  greater  contempt  for 
this  class  of  thieves.  He  next  jiroceeded  to  the  stalls  of 
the  dove  merchants,  and  overthrew  their  seats,  ordering 
the  immediate  rei'ioval  of  the  cages.  The  money  changers 
were  not  in  a  position  to  remonstrate;  for  he  left  them  on 
their  all  fours;  neither  had  they  time  to  enter  a  plea;  for 
they  were  never  busier  in  their  lives,  scrambling  after  the 
rolling  pieces,  and  taking  iu  a  large  area  with  their  eyes. 
The  dove  sellers,  had  not  the  courage  to  object;  for  fear 
that  the  fi-ail  structures  that  held  their  birds  might  go  the 
way  of  the  seats:  and  thus  their  ])roperty  become  a  total 
loss. 

He  next  proceeded  to  the  enclosures  of  the  sheep  and 
bullocks,  which  were  probably  made  with  temporary  and 
moveable  fences  and   ])artitions:  as  no  fixtures  were  possi- 


HISTOUICAL   AND   DOCTRINAT,.  83 

ble  upon  the  solid  marble  pavement.  He  swun^'  wide  open 
the  gates  of  the  folds,  which  he  fii'st  reached,  throwing 
down  the  structures  which  separated  flock  from  dock  as 
far  as  hands  could  reach,  repeating  the  command:  "take 
these  things  hence;  make  not  my  father's  house  a  house  of 
merchandise;"  emphasizing  the  word  "Father's."  Striking 
with  a  sharp  blow  of  the  scourge  in  his  hand  the  veteran, 
trained  sheep,  leader  of  the  lambs,  the  bell  wether  as  we 
call  him,  of  which  each  flock  had  one;  he  started  him  on 
the  back  track  to  the  gate  at  which  he  had  entered.  This 
course  the  uneasy  animal  would  readily  take,  as  an  escape 
from  enforced  confinement  amidst  strange  surroundings. 

Nature  animate  and  inanimate  ever  obeyed  him :  witness 
the  unbroken,  unbridled  colt,  which  carried  him  to  Jerusa- 
lem ;  and  the  fish  which  brought  to  the  hand  of  Peter  the 
needed  coin.  Flock  after  flock  was  dismissed  so  rapidly, 
as  to  leaA'e  no  time  for  remonstrance  from  the  keepers, 
who  usually  went  before  the  sheep;  and  now  found  them- 
selves under  the  necessity  of  rushing  to  the  head  of  the 
line,  and  giving  their  wonted  call  to  their  own  flock,  these 
animals  possessing  the  most  acute  distinction  of  voices  of 
all  brutes  handled  b^^  man.  In  this  way  onlj^  could  they 
prevent  the  intermixing  of  flocks  to  their  own  loss.  They 
Avere  of  necessity  very  lively  in  their  movements;  and  how- 
ever reluctant  to  depart  had  no  interval  for  demur,  no  one 
failing  to  comply  with  the  master's  command :  even  devils 
were  alwaj's  compelled  to  obe3^ 

A  similar  course  was  pursued  with  the  bullocks,  and  their 
guardians.  The  stern  directions  were  neither  disputed  nor 
disobeyed.  All  were  yielding  to  an  irresistible  influence, 
and  under  a  spell  that  conquered  them.  The  tone  of  the 
master's  voice  had  in  it  the  ring  of  absolute  command ; 
and  his  face  was  lighted  with  the  consciousness  of  his  own 
high  connection  with  the  unseen  divinity  of  the  temple; 
and  his  whole  animated  form  rev^ealed  this  persuasion. 
Readers  of  this  portion  of  the  New  Testament  history 
generally-  conceive,  it  is  probable,  that  at  this  time  his  face 
was  marked  b}^  harshness  and  anger;  but  his  countenance 
probably  wore  no  threatening  aspect.  There  was  certainly 
not  a  tinge  of  severity  upon  it,  when  at  the  gate  of  Oeth- 


84  SKETCHES   FKO.M    THE    LIFE    OF   JESUS. 

semane.  the  soldiers  went  backward  from  his  look  and  fell 
to  the  ground ;  but  an  unparalleled  submission  lent  an  al- 
most celestial  radiance  to  his  features,  which  not  only  over- 
awed the  men  of  war,  but  thrilled  the  very  soul  of  the 
Roman  governor;  subdued  the  dying-  thief;  brought  groans 
from  spectators  of  the  crucifixion  up,  as  the^^  smote  upon  their 
breasts;  and  extorted  a  confession  from  the  rugged  centurion. 
A  wondrous  tenderness  was  in  his  words,  when  he  cursed  the 
barren  fig  tree,  Mark  XI:  25-26,  and  Avhen  he  doomed  the 
holy  city.  Anger  in  the  human  sense  he  never  exhibited, 
but  imagination  can  never  picture  that  countenance.  In 
the  vast  court  of  the  Gentiles  there  was  soon  but  one  ob- 
ject, on  which  all  eyes  were  riveted ;  and  a  silence  had  soon 
fallen  upon  the  place,  in  which  no  sound  was  heard  but  his. 
own  sharp  command.  Truly  'it  was  never  so  seen  in 
Israel." 

Instances  are  on  i-ecord  in  which  strong  natures  have 
(controlled  and  overpowered  those  of  weaker  mold :  they 
may  illustrate,  but  fail  to  explain  this  achievement  of  the 
lowly  Nazarene,  in  whom  the  passive  virtues  predominated, 
and  had  their  most  perfect  development.  Unlike  all  human 
examples,  the  force  existing  in  him  was  that  of  immaculate 
holiness,  and  purity  without  a  blemish.  His  was  the  weighti- 
est personality  that  evei"  moved  on  earth.  His  simple 
presence  was  a  rebuke  to  evil:  and  the  sight  of  him  sug- 
gested a  contrast  in  the  highest  degree  unnerving  to  the 
beholder.  No  man,  conscious  of  being  in  the  wi'ong,  could 
stand  before  him,, or  endure  his  gaze  for  two  moments  in 
succession.  His  Ibok  thoroughly  aroused  thf  sleeping  con- 
science, and  brought  near  the  distant  thundeisof  the  Mount, 
which  not  even  a  beast  could  touch  and  live.  The  temple 
at  Jerusalem  was  in  fact  another  Sinai ;  and  these  desecra- 
tors  of  God's  house  i)ainfully  recollected  it.  The  truth 
flashed  upon  them. 

During  the  seven  allotted  days  of  the  passover  feast, 
.lesus  held  possession  of  the  holy  house,  as  he  also  did  at 
the  time  of  its  second  purgation,  and  performed  many  mira- 
cles in  the  days ;  as  is  learned  from  the  statement  of  Nico- 
demus,  and  the  testimony  of  the  Galileans,  who  attended 
and   witnessed  them,  and  were  thereby  prepared  to  accept 


HISTORICAL    AND    DOCTRINAL.  85 

his  teachings  subsequently.  Indeed  the  purification  of  the 
temple  was  a  lesson  never  to  be  forgotten.  A  nioi-e  fitting- 
initial  work  for  the  opening  of  the  ministry  of  the  Messiah, 
could  not  have  been  selected.  This  regard  for  the  sanctity- 
of  the  house  of  God  he  continued  to  enforce  during  the 
days  of  his  occupation,  against  the  laxity-  which  suffered 
ttie  court  of  the  Gentiles  to  be  made  a  thoroughfare  for 
passers  for  the  saving  of  distance. 

No  work  could  so  commend  itself  to  the  heart  of  a  godly 
•lev.-,  nor  carry  with  it  a  stronger  conviction,  than  this 
work  of  cleansing-  the  holy  house,  which  had  in  every  de- 
generate age  been  the  initial  work  of  revival,  and  i^eturn 
to  the  worship  of  Jehovah.  The  words  of  the  prophet 
Malachi  were  evidently  fulfilled:  "'Jehovah  shall  suddenly 
come  to  his  temple,  even  the  angel  of  the  covenant,  whom 
ye  dehght  in :  behold,  he  shall  come,  saith  the  Lord  of 
hosts.  But  who  shall  abide  the  day  of  his  coming?  and 
who  shall  stand  when  he  appeareth?  for  he  shall  be  like  a 
refiner's  fire,  and  like  fuller's  soap."  He  had  dropped  down 
-among  them  as  the  angel  of  the  covenant,  the  angel  of  the 
presence,  the  reformer  of  abuses,  burning  with  zeal  for  the 
honor  of  God,  like  the  angel  of  the  Lord. 

The  immense  reserved  force  in  this  calm,  gentle  character 
must  have  impressed  thousands,  as  it  did  Nicodemus ;  when 
he  saw  the  modest,  retiring  young  teacher  from  Nazareth 
flashing  like  a  sword  of  flame  before  the  eyes  of  evil  doers; 
and  carrying  out  single  handed  and  alone  his  work  of  re- 
form over  all  the  united  power  of  the  ruling  clas<L'.  It  was 
an  ungainsayable  demonstration  of  his  mission,  both  bj^ 
the  character  of  the  work  itself,  and  the  indescribable  force, 
by  which  it  was  effected. 

It  was  also  the  most  stinging  condemnation  of  the  high- 
priest  possible,  on  whom  chiefly  rested  the  guilt  of  all  this  pro- 
fanation. His  friends  and  coadjutors  beheld  the  proceedings 
with  suppressed  rage,  being  powerless  to  interpose  even  a 
Avord  of  objection.  Their  unfaltering  hostility  to  the  man  of 
Nazareth  had  its  beginning  here,  when  this  bold  attack  was 
made  upon  the  emoluments  of  the  office  of  the  high  priest ; 
and  what  was  more  offensive  still,  the  odium  was  cast 
upon  him  of  deliberately  sustaining  a  system  of  crime;  de- 


86  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

fyiiio-  the  (jod  whose  priest  he  was:  and  provoking-  his 
heaviest  judgments.  Xo  surer  course  could  have  been  de- 
vised by  an  enemy  to  destroy  all  reverence  for  Jehovah,  as 
well  as  to  annul  the  prestige  of  the  place,  than  by  encour- 
aging such  encroachment.  These  men  had  probably  made 
the  proposal  to  Jesus  to  cbmmit  the  dii-ection  of  his  min- 
istry to  them,  the  established  guides  of  the  people.  This 
work  of  judgment  beginning  at  the  house  of  (lod  was  his 
answer. 

Our  Lord  vindicated  his  proceduie  by  the  claim  of  son- 
ship  to  the  almighty  fathei*.  No  phrase  of  more  indefinite 
meaning  and  vague  application  was  in  use  at  the  time  than 
this;  the  '"son  of  God."  The  Voice  from  heaven  had  des- 
ignated this  Jesus  as  the  beloved  son  of  God  in  no  uncer- 
tain sense.  Words  coming  from  this  source  are  used  with 
no  equivocal  meaning.  The  title  of  the  son  of  God  be- 
longed to  him  in  the  sense,  that  his  humanity  was  of  im- 
mediate divine  production ;  but  it  was  his  also  in  an 
infinitely  more  elevated  sense.  In  respect  of  his  divinity, 
he  was  the  eternal  Son  of  the  eternal  Father.  He  stood 
upon  the  loftiest  pedestal  of  pretension  from  the  earliest 
commencement  of  his  course;  and  never  abated  one  jot  or 
tittle  of  the  supremest  claims.  To  the  ears  of  the  stubborn 
monotheists,  ignoi'ant  of  the  tri-personality  of  the  divine 
nature,  this  had  the  sound  of  blasphemy.  They  could  not 
receive  it;  his  twelve  even  did  not  realize  its  full  meaning 
until  he  was  gone:  and  it  was  a  difficulty  in  the  way  of 
the  whole  nation/;.;  It  was  diffi«:'ult  foi'  the  disciples  to  adjust 
his  standing  in  their  own  minds,  in  harmony  with  their 
belief  in  one  only  living  and  true  God. 

His  standing  was  fully  announced  before  the  conclusion 
■of  the  feast  however.  The  occasion  of  declaring  it  (;ame 
about  by  the  act  of  the  opposers  themselves.  The  evan- 
gelist John  calls  them  "the  Jews,"  by  which  term  he  evi- 
dently designates  the  leaders  of  the  people,  and  the  repre- 
sentatives of  Judaism.  During  the  progress  of  the  purga- 
tion, they  had  held  their  peace;  but  on  one  of  the  subse- 
quent days,  they  approached  the  reformer  witli  this  ques- 
tion:  ''What  sign  showest  thou,  seeing  that  thou  doest 
these  things?"      It  is  to  be  noted  that  their  demand   was 


HISTOHKAL    AND    l)0(TI{L\AL.  87 

made  with  the  most  intense  acrimony,  by  those  wlio  were 
disposed  to  antagonize  to  the  bitter  end  one,  wlio  presumed 
to  usurp  control  of  their  affairs. 

It  is  plain  from  the  answer  of  Christ :  that  they  were 
angry  enough  to  destroy  him  then  and  there;  and  as  our 
Savior  looked  upon  them,  he  saw  the  witnesses  who  would 
swear  away  his  life,  and  the  men  who  would  lead  the  storm 
of  insult  and  abuse  around  his  cross.  They  surveyed  him 
from  head  to  foot  with  eyes  that  shot  deadly  malice 
already.  The  loftiness  of  his  demeanor  had  not  left  him 
yet;  and  tbe};-  beheld  before  them  the  beau  ideal  of  kingly 
authority.  With  assumed  prerogative  they  demanded 
fiercely;  ''What  sign  showest  thou?"  "Destroy  this  tem- 
ple,'" he  replied,  as  you  are  willing  to  do  even  now;  ''and 
in  three  days  I  will  raise  it  up  again."  His  accompanying 
gesture  left  no  uncertainty  about  his  meaning;  his  arms 
were  possibly  folded  across  his  breast.  They  understood 
his  meaning,  confirmed  as  it  was  by  subsequent  declara- 
tions to  the  same  effect  i-eported  to  them  ;  and  afterwards 
said  to  Pilate,  "we  heard  him  say,  after  three  days,  I  will 
rise  again,''  Two  witnesses  here  present,  probably  mem- 
bers of  the  sanhedrin,  knowingly  put  a  false  construction 
on  his  words  and  swore  to  a  false  interpretation  of  them. 

In  our  Lord's  answer  two  remarkable  assertions  are 
contained;  1.  That  the  house  of  stone  and  marble  had 
lost  its  divine  occupant,  having  never  indeed  possessed  the 
Shechinah.  The  indwelling  deity,  no  longer  with  them,  had 
taken  up  his  abode  in  the  flesh  and  body  of  the  Nazarene. 
His  own  humanity  was  now  the  only  temple.  In  this 
answer  there  was  a  plain  announcement  that  the  divinity 
revealed  at  Sinai,  and  worshiped  in  the  tabernacle  in 
the  wilderness,  and  afterwards  in  the  temple,  was  now  in- 
carnate in  the  person  of  this  Jesus ;  and  that  his  bodily- 
presence  in  this  second  inferior  house  made  it  more  glorious 
than  the  magnificent  structure  of  Solomon,  on  which  riches 
untold  had  been  lavished.  It  was  evident  to  all  beholders 
that  he  had  the  consciousness  of  the  majesty,  which  he 
claimed.  It  continued  with  him  to  the  end,  and  found  ut- 
terance in  his  dying  words.  That  he  bplieved  in  himself  it 
is  impossible  to  deny ;  that  he  was  not   in  error  his  whole 


88  f^KKJTCHE.S    FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

life  sliows  oil  every  page,  2.  His  answer  also  contains 
the  prediction  of  liis  resurrection  after  three  days,  which 
was  to  be  "a  sign"  indeed  that  would  arouse  the  world:  es- 
tablish a  new  kingdom  on  earth,  the  kingdom  of  heaven;  and 
introduce  a  new  element  into  so(Mety,  which  will  finally  create 
all  thinu's  anew. 


HISTOItlCAL    AND    IKK'TKINAL.  89 


CHAPTF.H  IX. 


NICODEMUS,    JOHI 


John  the  Evangelist  gives  us  the  account  of  the  opening 
of  Christ's  ministiy  in  Judea.  where  he  was  present  as  a 
disciple;  and  of  the  conversation  with  Nicodenms,  which  he 
was  privileged  to  hear  and  report.  This  man  Nicodemus 
is  to  us,  perhaps,  the  most  interesting  inquirer  exhibited 
in  the  gospel  history  ;  because  we  have  a  more  distinct  view 
of  the  process  of  his  conversion,  than  is  afforded  in  other 
cases.  We  see  him  in  the  first  stage  of  anxious  and  painful 
struggle,  intensely  ashamed  of  the  interest,  which  he  felt  in 
the  Nazarene,  whom  he  recognized  as  a  teacher  sent  of 
God ;  he  appears  before  us  again  at  the  time  of  his  first 
avowal  of  conviction  and  belief,  when  his  associates  in  the 
council  were  so  startled  by  his  abrupt  declaration  ;  that  the 
sanhedrin  broke  up  without  a  formal  adjournment:  and 
"every  man  went  to  his  own  home,"  wondering  what  next; 
and  we  see  him  finally  step  out  before  the  world,  a  loving- 
adherent  and  friend  of  the  ci'ucified  one,  in  the  hour  of  the 
midnight  depression,  and  apparent  defeat  of  his  cause. 

He  was  old,  and  rich,  and  of  the  highest  standing  among 
his  countrymen;  and  so  passed  through  the  most  intense 
and  protracted  mental  conflict,  until  truth  finally  conquered 
Jewish  prejudice,  Pharisaic  self-righteousness,  and  worldly 
entanglements.  These  three  glimpses  of  a  soul  in  its 
passage  from  death  unto  life  give  the  history  a  surpassing 
interest.  He  expresses  the  very  feelings  common  to  all 
men  just  connng  to  the  apprehension  of  the  necessity  of 
spiritual  regeneration ;  he  maintains  the  most  profound 
silence  respecting  his  feelings  even  to  his  friends  and  col- 
leagues for  the  space  of  more  than  two  .years:  blurts  out 
at  length  his  convictions  to  the  utter  amazement  of  his 
associates:  and  ends  by  adopting  the  cause  of  the  Nazarene, 


90  SKETCHES   FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

in  the  hour  of  darkest  gloom  in  all  its  progress.  We  can 
but  feel  the  deepest  sympathy  through  all  the  way.  That 
he  was  a  most  sincere  and  earnest  inquirer,  the  very  shame 
which  he  felt  is  proof.  A  mere  uninterested  speculator  is 
never  ashamed :  he  is  equally  fluent  on  religious  subjects 
as  on  other:  an  earnest  inquirer  after  personal  salvation 
is  always  ashamed;  and  his  tongue  is  almost  palsied.  This 
shame  which  Nicodemus  felt  is  proof  of  his  deep  sincerity , 
and  profound  personal  interest.  Whenever  his  name  is  men- 
tioned, it  is  added  that  he  came  to  Jesus  by  night;  be- 
cause though  knowing  him  to  be  a  teacher  sent  from 
God,  he  did  not  dare  to  come  b}^  day. 

But  he  was  determined  to  seek  an  interview;  and  that  in 
spite  of  the  reluctance  and  fear  and  shame,  which  moved 
to  deter  him.  He  would  resist  the  suggestions  of  an  evil 
nature,  and  still  in  some  way  secure  further  instruction. 
He  that  would  be  saved  enters  upon  a  conflict.  We  may 
be  sure  that  on  that  night  he  endeavored  to  hide  from 
every  one  the  direction  of  his  walk;  after  his  arrival  at  the 
place,  that  he  hesitated  and  debated  witn  himself  before 
he  entered ;  that  he  passed  through  a  struggle  before  he 
revealed  nimself;  that  he  sat  down  breathing  hard,  and 
palpitating  Avith  effort.  The  great  "mastei'  in  Israel''  be- 
came an  humble  inqnirer.  We  infer  from  the  use  in  illustra- 
tion, which  the  Lord  made  of  water;  that  Nicodemus  had 
been  a  disciple  of  the  Baptist,  and  was  apprised  of  his 
testimony  to  Jesus.  He  was  one  of  those  who  were  "look- 
ing for  salvation  'U  Israel." 

The  opinion  of  his  deep  sincerity  is  confirmed  by  the  fact, 
that  the  Savior  made  to  him  the  fullest  discovery  of  his 
own  high  personality,  and  the  mission,  u{)on  which  he  had 
been  sent,  ever  made  in  any  recorded  interview.  Indeed, 
the  whole  system  of  theology  is  contained  in  the  words  of 
that  conversation.  The  first  effort  of  the  great  teacher 
was  to  impress  the  necessit}'^  of  a  new  nature  in  man ;  of  a 
change  that  should  be  as  great,  as  visible  in  the  most 
moral  pharisee,  as  in  the  vilest  offender.  He  was  no 
preacher  of  mere  repentance,  and  a  refoi'mation  of  man- 
ners; but  proclaimed  the  necessity  of  a  new  birth  into  a 
new  world,  a  new  family,  a  new  father  and  a  new  destiny. 


HISTORICAL    AND   DOCTRINAL.  91 

It  required  repetitiou,  and  illustration  to  bring-  the  aged 
Jew  to  an  apprehension  of  the  severity  and  the  pregnancy 
of  the  truth  inculcated:  but  this  truth  appreciated  and 
felt  was  only  preliminary  to  the  great  subject  of  the  love 
of  God  in  the  redemption  of  sinful  men.  This  was  the 
great  theme  of  the  interview,  which  doubtless  overwhelmed 
the  inquirer  with  far  greater  astonishment,  than  the  mere 
''earthly  things"  treated  of  at  the  first. 

The  love  of  God  is  the  origin  of  the  whole  work  of  re- 
demption; the  work  of  Christ  is  not  the  cause  of  divine 
pity;  but  the  effect.  The  heart  of  God  first  moved  with 
ineffable  love;  and  the  result  was  that  he  gave  his  son; 
and  Christ  came  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost. 
Tor  frequently  we  reverse  the  scheme,  and  represent  (iod 
as  a  stern  and  unfeeling  executor  of  law,  with  no  more 
tenderness  than  is  in  the  marble  statue  of  justice  with  its 
bandaged  eyes  and  naked  sword ;  and  view  the  atoning 
work  of  Christ  as  turning  aside  his  anger,  and  propitiat- 
ing, and  inclining  him  to  show  mercy  to  transgressors. 
How  directly  contrary  the  representation  made  by  Christ! 
A  love,  greater  than  man  or  angels  can  know,  whose 
length  and  breadth  and  depth  and  height  can  not  be  meas- 
ured, led  him  to  devise  a  method  by  which  his  banished 
people  might  be  restored.  Love  is  the  most  compulsory, 
and  ingenious  of  all  the  passions  of  the  human  soul;  in 
God  it  is  not  a  passion;  it  is  his  very  nature;  the  material 
of  his  very  being;  holding  in  him  an  ascendancy  far  higher 
than  in  us;  the  prime  mover  of  the  mighty  attributes  of 
his  uncreated  being;  possessing  all  the  ingenuity  of  the 
unfa,thomable  wisdom,  Avielding  all  the  inexhaustible  forces 
of  omnipotence.  This  love,  supreme  in  the  divine  breast, 
invented  a  mode  by  which  a  divine  person  could  be  intro- 
duced into  our  humanity  as  a  member  of  the  race:  have 
the  sins  of  a  guilty  world  all  laid  upon  his  head ;  and 
endure  in  their  place,  and  for  them   what  justice  required. 

Such  a  thought  could  not  originate  elsewhere  than  in 
God  himself.  In  pursuance  of  this  object,  Jesus  Christ,  the 
gift  of  love,  the  messenger  of  love,  came  as  one  of  the  fami- 
ly of  man.  The  very  highest  eflort  of  love  is  a  willingness 
to  suffer  for  those  enshrined  in  our  affections.    This  Jesus 


92  SKETCHES    FROM    THE    I>IFE    OK   JESUS. 

dill.  None  could  invent  such  a  thing  respecting-  God;  had 
he  not  revealed  it  himself.  The  divinity  of  the  doctrine  is 
its  own  evidence.  Such  a  thing  so  noble,  so  good  the 
wildest  imagination  never  conceived  concerning  him. 

1.  This  love  Christ  teaches  is  universal,  embracing  all  the 
members  of  the  human  family.  "God  so  loved  the  world.'' 
If  he  had  said :  God  so  loved  the  Jews ;  it  would  have  been 
in  accord  with  all  the  prejudices  and  bigotry  of  his  audi- 
tor. The  Gentiles  were  not  at  all  accounted  of  in  the 
sight  of  God  according  to  the  teaching  of  the  times: 
"they  were  only  as  the  drippings  of  a  cask,  or  like  spittle." 
But  the  import  of  these  words  is,  that  God  loved  the  Gen- 
tiles ecjually  as  he  did  the  Jews.  Distinction  of  race  and 
blood  count  not  with  him.  The  object  of  his  regard  and 
affection  is  man  as  man.  Even  in  our  enlightened  day 
there  are  those  who  would  prefer  to  hear  Jesus  say :  God 
so  loved  the  church,  or  God  so  loved  the  elect :  but  this 
is  not  the  tenor  of  the  words,  "God  so  loved  the  world." 
Our  minds  are  so  limited  and  narrow,  that  we  cannot  take 
in  the  whole  idea  of  the  entire  race  in  our  conception ;  and  we 
are  forced  to  lump  all  the  numberless  millions  of  men  of 
all  ages  in  one  term  "the  world."  We  lose  sight  of  the 
individual  in  the  general ;  but  God  does  not  so  generalize. 
To  him  every  individual  is  present  and  fully  appreciated 
in  his  individuality'^,  and  considered  as  a  unit;  and  each  one 
as  an  individual  is  an  object  of  the  divicee  love. 

When  our  Lord  says:  "God  so  loved  the  world;"  the 
words  must  mean  that  he  so  loved  each  member  of  the 
human  race,  as  to  tfive  his  only  begotten  son  for  his  indi- 
vidual salvation.  (lod  expressly  said  to  Cain,  that  the  way 
of  acceptance  and  forgiveness  was  open  to  him,  as  well  as 
to.  Abel.  The  words,  "Jacob  have  I  loved,  and  Esan  have 
I  hated,"  were  spoken  more  than  a  thousand  years  after 
the  men  were  in  their  graves,  and  had  no  reference  to  the 
individual  brothers;  but  to  the  nations  descended  from 
them  respectively.  The  purport  of  our  Savior's  teachings 
is:  God  so  loved  Cain,  Ksan.  Judas  Iscariot,  the  bloody 
Mary,  Tom  Paine  and  every  other  enemy  of  truth  and 
right,  as  to  give  up  his  only  begotten  son  to  death  for 
their  salvation.    2  Cor.  V:  15.  most  undeniablv  asserts  that 


HISTORICAL    AND    HOC'I  KINAI>.  93 

Christ  died  for  ••all"  in  distinction  fioni  the  saved.  The 
word  -'aU""  cannot  be  nan-owed  down  to  the  exclusion  of 
any  portion  of  mankind  or  of  any  individaal :  but  is  most 
sweppino-  and  inclusive.  God  so  loved  the  world  not  in  the 
general  and  totality:  but  knowing  intimately  every  dis- 
tinct person,  he  loved  them  all  in  their  separate  individu- 
ality. The  vilest  sinner  of  the  race  God  loves  as  David 
loved  his  Absalom,  the  enemy  of  his  throne,  and  of  his  life 
as  well. 

Did  not  Christ  weep  over  Jerusalem  when  the  things  be- 
longing to  their  peace  were  hidden  from  their  eyes?  Did 
not  God  bemoan  himself  over  the  antidiluvians,  when  "it 
repented  the  Lord  that  he  had  made  man  upon  the  earth ; 
and  it  grieved  him  at  his  heart?"  Jesus  does  not  sa3^ 
Would  God  I  had  died  for  thee:  but  over  every  lost  soul 
he  says,  for  thee  I  drank  the  cup  of  trembling,  for  thee  I 
laid  down  my  life,  and  gave  my  soul  as  a  sacrifice.  Over 
every  generation,  it  repents  him  that  he  had  made  man 
upon  the  earth :  and  it  grieves  him  at  his  heart.  (Jver 
every  generation,  Christ  says  Avith  tears:  "how  often  would 
I  have  gathered  thee?'"  "He  is  not  willing  that  any  should 
perish;  but  that  all  should  come  to  repentance."  He  even 
makes  oath:  "As  [  live  saith  the  Lord:  I  have  no  pleasure 
in  the  death  of  him  that  dieth;  but  rather  that  he  should 
tui'n  and  live."  i.  e.  His  death  is  a  grief  to  me,  a  wound 
that  I  receive.  No  one  then  is  beyond  the  pale  of  God's 
love.  For-  wise  and  inscrutable  reasons  he  suffei's  evil  to 
prevail  to  the  eternal  ruin  of  multitudes;  because  men  are 
left  to  the  freedom  of  their  own  will.  The  responsibility 
foi-  this  ruin  is  on  themselves. 

(jod's  love  to  every  individual  is  real  and  unfeigned. 
There  is  a  vast  amount  of  pretended  affection  on  earth; 
but  accursed  be  the  thought  of  hypocrisy  or  deceit  in  him. 
Love  has  its  origin  and  home  in  the  bosom  of  God,  and 
like  coals  of  juniper  it  has  a  most  vehement  flame.  Waters 
cannot  quench  it,  nor  floods  drown  it;"  like  the  flerce  burn- 
ings in  the  coal  oil  regions  Avliich  floods  cannot  check,  which 
can  only  be  left  to  burn  themselves  out;  only  God's  love 
<'an  never  exhaust  itself. 


94  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

Are  we  severally  the  objects  of  such  a  love?  If  we  deny 
or  doubt  it  we  are  rejecting  the  testimony  of  "the  faithful 
and  true"  witness.  If  any  would  put  this  to  the  test,  let  him 
come  to  Jesus  Christ  in  the  exercise  of  a  real  faith;  and  he 
shall  know  for  himself,  if  the  reality  does  not  surpass  the 
report;  and  not  the  half  can  be  told.  Such  is  the  nature 
of  faith  that  to  doubt  is  to  reject. 

2.  Our  Lord  here  teaches  that  the  love  of  God  surpasses 
belief.  "If  I  have  told  j^ou  earthly  things  and  ye  believe 
not;  how  shall  ye  believe  if  I  tell  you  heavenly  things?"  The 
regeneration  of  the  soul  is  an  earthly  thing,  and  if  you  can 
hardly  believe  what  I  tell  3^ou  of  it:  were  I  to  tell  you  of 
the  love  that  moves  in  the  heart  of  God,  which  is  a  heavenly 
secret;  how  could  you  believe?  There  is  something  in  it 
that  the  largest  faith  can  scarcel3^  credit;  and  yet  the  only 
witness,  capable  of  testifying  from  his  own  personal  knowl- 
edge of  it,  is  the  speaker,  being  the  son  of  man,  who  came 
down  from  heaven,  and  yet  is  in  heaven  still.  All  others 
are  heresay  witnesses;  he  "speaks  what  he  knows  and  testi- 
fies to  what  he  has  seen;"  and  his  testimony  is  true. 

There  is  a  tenderness  of  sympathy  in  God,  an  ardor  of 
desire  for  our  salvation,  a  slowness  and  hesitation  in  pun- 
ishing, a  tireless  long-suffering,  of  which  men  can  form  no 
conception.  His  love  passes  all  creature  affection,  as  the 
heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth.  The  sun's  height  is 
computed,  and  is  nearly  a  hundred  millions  of  miles;  but 
the  height  of  the  heavens  cannot  be  stated  in  figures  of 
man's  arithmetic.  The  light  of  some  of  its  shining  stars 
has  required  thousinds  of  years  to  reach  us.  His  thoughts 
are  higher  than  the  heavens.  His  love  surpasses  all  the 
wonders  of  his  creative  works,  and  the  infinities  of  his  be- 
ing. The  mighty  strength  of  his  nature  moves  in  this 
channel.  The  ruling,  determining  power  in  the  mighty  cir- 
cle of  his  uncreated  endowments  is  love. 

Standing  in  the  chamber  of  sickness  and  death,  or  in  the 
cemetery  by  the  open  grave,  exhibitions  of  the  sincerest 
affection  are  often  seen ;  and  often  has  the  thought  arisen ; 
real  love  is  here  weeping,  does  God  love  as  tenderly?  Some- 
times separation  means  death  to  the  survivor.  Does  God 
so  cling  to  the  objects  of  his  affectionate  regard?    And  we 


HISTORICAL    AND   DOCTRINAL.  95 

fall  back  upon  the  testimou}-  of  the  faithful  and  true 
witness:  and  rest  assured  that  the  fondness  of  a  creature's 
love  is  ice  compared  with  the  warmth  of  the  love  of  God. 
A  mother's  love  stands  as  an  example  of  the  strongest 
human  affection:  but  the  scriptures  tell  us  that  God's  love 
far  exceeds.  It's  channel  is  deeper,  its  current  is  stronger, 
its  volume  is  immeasurable. 

Are  we  the  objects  of  such  a  love?  Is  the  lowest,  the 
poorest,  most  despised  child  of  earth  cherished  in  the  di- 
vine regards  with  such  an  intensity  of  devotion?  Is  his 
welfare  so  dear  to  the  great  Father?  and  we  fall  back  upon 
the  words  of  the  faithful  and  true  witness;  and  believe. 
"Eye  has  not  .seen;  neither  has  ear  heard:  neither  has 
it  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive"'  the  infinite 
love  of  God.  Could  we  borrow  the  language  of  angels,  it 
would  not  vehicle  the  soul-dissolving  truth.  Could  we  call 
from  the  skies  the  loving  John  or  the  enraptured  Paul,  he 
could  only  say,  that  the  words  of  earth  are  insufficient  to 
describe  the  reality,  which  might  be  felt:  but  could  not  be 
told.  Lips  of  clay  can  never-  utter  it:  the  burning  tongue 
of  seraph  could  never  tell  it.  Gabriel  could  saj  no  more 
than  that  it  passes  knowledge;  and  when  the  attempt 
is  made  to  declare  it,  the  heavenly  host  are  dumb  with 
wonder;  and  it  remains  untold. 

Can  the  world  be  govereued  by  such  a  being?  do  all  men 
share  in  the  affection  of  such  a  Father?  And  we  fall  back 
upon  the  words  of  the  faithful  and  true  witness,  who 
knows  the  deep  things  of  God.  A  flood  of  evil  has  cer- 
tainly struck  this  world,  upon  whose  disastrous  current 
the  race  are  being  borne  downward  to  a  dark  perdition ; 
we  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf,  and  our  iniquities  like  the  wind 
are  carrying  us  away  hell-ward,  as  the  storm  drives  the 
withered  leaves.  .  The  heart  of  the  best  is  a  deep  sea  of  in- 
iquity :  the  ways  of  God  are  inexplicable  to  our  short 
sight ;  but  we  rest  upon  the  words  of  the  faithful  and  true 
witness;  and  trust,  where  we  cannot  understand.  We  see 
but  in  part  and  know  but  in  part.  When  the  da^^  dawns 
and  the  shadows  flea  away,  we  shall  comprehend  some- 
what of  that  love,  which  the  world  will  in  no  wise  believe, 
thouffh  a  man  declare  it  unto  them. 


96  SKETCHES   FHOM   THE    IJFE   OF  JESUfi. 

3.  He  loved  them  in  their  sins.  This  is  the  strangest 
feature  of  the  story.  It  is  no  wonder  that  he  loves  angels : 
for  they  -are  holy :  it  is  no  Avonder  that  his  tender  mercies 
are  over  the  brutes;  for  they  are  incapable  of  sin;  that 
the  sun  shines  for  the  beasts  of  the  field;  and  that  the 
earth  spontaneously  3nelds  their  food ;  that  he  feeds  the 
ravens  and  supplies  the  youug  lions;  these  have  never 
raised  rebellion  against  his  will,  nor  stabbed  him  by  their 
ingratitude.  But  it  is  unspeakably  wonderful  that  he 
should  love  sinners,  wilful  and  wanton  and  stubborn  rebels. 
When  the  sins  of  men  cause  the  creation  to  groan,  and  the 
very  ground  utters  loud  cries  to  heaven  for  vengeance  for 
the  crimes  committed  upon  it,  it  is  wonderful  that  a  holy 
(jod  should  not  only  forbear  his  punishment;  but  that  the 
bowels  of  divine  compassion  should  move  toward  the  guilty 
authors  of  evil.  'How  strange  the  love  that  him  in- 
clined ! ' " 

It  was  not  love  in  the  human  sense;  for  there  was  noth- 
ing in  man  to  love.  It  was  the  purest,  most  unselfish  af- 
fection possible.  There  are  sights  which  sicken  the  behold- 
ers, from  which  they  turn  away  unable  to  bear  the  view; 
the  sight  of  sin  affects  a  holy  (Jod  in  just  this  manner.  It 
excites  intolerable  loathing;  he  does  not  look  upon  it. 
What  is  therf  to  him  attractive  in  the  blind,  ungrateful, 
sinful  children  of  this  world  ?  Is  it  possible  that  he  should 
love  the  transgressors  of  his  law?  This  is  the  most  won- 
derful of  all  the  wonders  of  his  being. 

Is  his  feeling  pity?  Pit^'  is  a  loving  sympathy  for  our 
friends,  when  we  t^^  them  suffering.  We  pity  the  unfortun- 
ate; not  the  guilty ;  our  fj'ieuds  not  our  enemies.  Pity  for 
the  guilty  would  imply  sympathy  with  crime.  A  full  sense 
of  the  enormity  of  an  offense  just  dries  up  the  tears  of 
pity ;  and  we  resign  the  culprit  to  the  fate  which  he  has 
wantonly  brought  upon  himself.  The  ofiiee  of  pity  is  to 
secure  aid   for  the  unfortunate,  not  the  guilty. 

The  emotion  that  ruled  in  the  Godhead  was  then  not  like 
human  love  nor  human  pity.  It  was  mercy;  kindness  to 
the  guilty,  the  very  pui-est  form  of  love;  a  feeling  not  found 
in  the  heart  of  man,  unknown  to  human  nature;  not  ex- 
isting in  our  experience.    It  led  Christ  to  pray  for  liis  mur- 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTUINAL.  97 

derers  in  their  sin ;  it  was  love  in  the  purest  form  it  can 
possibly  assume.  This  was  the  nature  of  the  mighty  love 
which  furnished  a  savior  for  man :  it  \yas  love  to  enemies, 
while  enemies.  The  whole  race  are  partakers  in  the  de- 
thronement of  God.  and  the  rejection  and  crucifixion  of 
Christ.  They  stand  by  as  sympathizers  at  least  if  not 
aiders  and  abettors:  and  the  Savior's  intercession  for  his 
murderers  is  really  a  prayer  for  the  whole  race. 

4.  This  love  is  to  be  measured  b}-  the  sacrifices  which  it 
makes.  If  a  man  g-ives  his  all  for  the  relief  of  parties  in 
whom  he  is  interested;  or  surrenders  his  life  in  their  be- 
half, the  act  certainly  expresses  the  degree  of  his  affection. 
It  shows  that  he  prefers  their  welfare  to  his  own  life.  In 
the  case  before  us  God  is  doing  all  that  he  can  do  in  be- 
half of  sinful  mortals.  In  Isaiah  Ch.  Y,  he  asks:  "What 
more  could  be  done  that  I  have  not  done?""  Man  could 
not  be  rescued  by  simple  power :  he  is  to  be  redeemed  with 
a  price ;  and  the  price  exhausted  the  treasury  of  heaven : 
but  it  was  paid.  It  was  the  utmost  effort  of  divinity. 
God  did  not  wait  to  be  entreated:  the  provision  of  the 
deliverer  was  immediate,  spontaneous,  gushing.  As  soon 
as  man  fell,  the  Savior  rushed  to  his  rescue.  The  redemp- 
tion was  not  indeed  consummated  till  the  fulness  of  time;  but 
the  arrangement  was  immediate.  There  was  but  one  being 
of  sufficient  dignity  and  worth  to  satisfy  the  law;  he  that 
was  above  all  law.  His  blood  not  only  satisfied;  it  mag- 
nified the  law. 

An  incident  in  the  history  of  one  of  the  little  states  of 
Greece,  Locris,  is  often  quoted  as  an  instance  in  a  hu- 
man court,  illustrating  the  sacred  immutability  of  law, 
and  the  policy  of  delivering  a  culprit  by  substitution, 
which  it  well  declares.  The  king,  deeply  impressed  with  the 
necessity  of  checking  the  destructive  vice  of  adultery,  en- 
acted a  law;  that  whoever  was  thereafter  found  guilty  of 
this  crime,  should  suffer  as  a  penalty  the  loss  of  his  two 
e3^es;  and  that  no  position  nor  merit  should  shield  the 
transgressor.  His  determination  to  enforce  the  law  was 
strengthened  by  the  evident  demoralization  and  ruin  effect, 
ed  by  the  vice,  threatening  the  entire  corruption  of  society. 
The  ejes  being  the  inlet  of  temptation  were  to  be  forfeited 


98  SKI:TCHES   FitO.M   THK    life   of  JE8U8. 

to  the  law.  Tlie  first  (leliiiqueiit  was  his  own  son,  and  heir 
of  his  throne :  and  we  can  imagine  the  stern  old  king  upon 
the  Judgement  seat,  presiding  at  the  trial  of  his  first 
born,  and  determined  at  all  hazards  to  sustain  the  neces- 
sary law.  On  full  proof  he  pronounced  the  voung  man 
guilty,  and  sentenced  him  to  sustain  the  dire  punishment. 
The  executioner  was  ordered  to  take  the  two  eyes,  which 
the  law  demanded.  AVhen  one  had  been  thiust  out,  the 
king  himself  descended  from  the  throne,  saying:  "the  law 
has  received  one  eye;  take  the  other  out  of  my  own  head." 
The  law  shall  have  its  two  eyes;  but  spare  my  son. 

This  case  exemplifies  the  principle  of  substitution:  bui: 
liere  the  criminal  endured  one-half  of  the  sentence.  In  our 
case  Christ  sustains  the  whole  penalty,  pays  the  whole 
debt  and  we  are  exempt  entirely.  In  all  our  afflictions  and 
sufferings  there  is  nothing  penal ;  they  are  but  disciplinary. 
Not  one  drop  of  the  cup  of  trembling  are  we  to  drink: 
rhrist  drained  the  whole  in  our  stead;  the  cup  of  poison 
prepared  for  us  he  emptied.  The  law  receives  its  full  de- 
mands from  ou]'  substitute ;  the  rod  of  affliction  smites  us, 
but  the  sword  of  justice  never.  Awaking,  as  it  were,  from 
its  sleep  of  ages,  it  descended  upon  the  man,  that  was 
(iod's  fellow. 

How  vividly  must  the  scenes  of  ('alvary  have  recalled  to 
Xicodemus  the  convei-sation  three  years  before  in  the  house 
at  Jerusalem.  Every  word  uttered  there  must  have  im- 
printed itself  upon  the  memory:  as  all  the  words  of  Jesus 
seem  never  in  any  case  to  have  perished  fi-om  remembrMnce. 
The  necessity  of  Christ's  being  lifted  up  as  the  serpent  in 
the  wilderness:  (lod's  giving  him  to  death  out  of  his  great 
love;  that  man  might  not  pei-ish,  but  have  everlasting- 
life;  unintelligible  befoi-e,  was  fully  explained   by  the  event. 

The  infinite  dignity  of  the  sufferer,  the  son  of  God  out  of 
the  Father's  bosom,  who  while  on  earth  could  not  but  be 
in  heaven  also,  must  have  been  realized  when  nature  gave 
signs  of  woe  at  his  death.  He  was  "the  lamb  of  God, 
which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world."  The  way  of  sal- 
vation through  him  by  faith  was  made  clear.  How  does 
a  lamb  take  away  sin?  by  suffering  the  penalty.  How  does 
the  offerer  receive  the  l)enefit  of  the  sacrifice?   bv  laving  his 


HISTORICAL    AND   DOCTRINAL.  99 

hand  upon  the  head  of  the  atoning  lamlj,  confessing-  and 
laying  his  sin  thereon.  Faith  says,  this  my  Iamb  dies  for 
me:   he  taketh  away  my  sin. 

This  man  Nicodemus  evidently  had  not  in  him  the  stuff 
of  which  leaders  are  made.  In  his  night  interview  with 
Jesus  he  did  not  use  the  singular  personal  pronoun  at  all. 
He  spoke  the  convictions  of  others,  as  well  as  his  own. 
'•  We  know  that  thou  art  a  teacher  come  from  (lod.  '"Of 
the  chief  rulers  also  many  believed  on  him ;  but  because  of 
the  Pharisees  they  did  not  (ronfess  him."  And  when  in  the 
council  afterwards  the  taunting  question  of  the  scribes, 
•'have  any  of  the  rulers,  or  of  the  Pharisees  believed  on 
him?,"  forced  him  to  avow  his  conviction  of  the  innocence 
of  the  Xazarene:  his  avowal  was  not  open,  but  covert.  The 
drift  of  his  speech  was,  '"doth  bur  law  condemn  any  man, 
before  it  hear  him  and  know  what  it  doeth?"  One  at  least 
of  the  rulers  and  Pharisees  considered  his  course  with 
favor. 

But  when  the  insane  fury  of  the  enemies  manifested  itself 
in  the  choice  of  the  most  unjustifiable  mea^sures  of  pro- 
cedure against  their  victim ;  and  on  the  memorable  day 
of  the  trial  before  Pilate,  when  "the  blast  of  the  terrible 
ones  was  like  a  storm  against  the  wall:"  or  like  the 
American  tornado  prostrating  the  w^all,  levelling  the  forest, 
and  scraping  off  the  works  of  man  from  the  face  of  the 
earth  like  toys  of  the  nursery,  Nicodemus  stood  firm 
against  the  blast.  The  tempest  of  feeling  swept  away  the 
disciples:  shut  the  mouths  of  those  who  had  felt  the  touch 
of  the  all-healing  power:  caused  the  women  to  stand  afar 
off  beholding;  but  then  this  man  publicly  showed  his  at- 
tachment. Yet  even  then  he  was  the  secondary  figure.  A 
bolder  soul  went  in  and  begged  the  body  of  Pilnte.  Had 
he  but  been  willing  three  years  earlier  to  make  public  his 
allegiance  to  the  master,  whom  he  felt  to  be  "a  teacher 
come  from  God;"  and  by  his  own  profession  the  Son  of 
(lOd,  whose  mission  to  this  world  could  not  withdraw  his 
presence  from  heaven,  he  might  have  realized  the  joys  of 
(Jod's  salvation  all  these  yeai's.  He  would  have  received 
•'a  hundred   fold   more  in  this  life,   houses,   and   brethern, 


100 


SKETCHES    FROM    THE    LIFE   OF  JESUS. 


and  sisters,  and  mothers,  and  children,  and  lands,  with 
persecutions  :*■  and  have  occupied  a  far  hi,a-her  place  in  the 
.aospel  history  than  he  now   does. 


* 


HISTORICAL  AND  DO(  TRINAL.  101 


CHAPTER    X. 


THE  WOMAN  OF  SAMARIA.    JOHN  iv, 


The  reason  of  our  Lord's  leaving;  Jiidea,  whei'e  lie  had 
been  teachinjj-,  for  some  months  probably,  was  because  the 
Pharisees  were  irritated  at  his  increasing  populai-it^^ ;  and 
took  umbrao'e  because  the  peo])le  flocked  to  him  rather 
than  to  John.  Some  of  John's  disciples  also  had  begun  to 
manifest  a  jealousy  for  their  master,  sinking-  as  he  was 
into  an  eclipse.  The  Savior's  prudence  always  led  him 
away  from  collisions,  and  he  ever  appeased  acerbity  and 
prejudice  by  yielding.  His  course  previously  announced  in 
the  prophecies  of  Isaiah,  ch.  ix:  1,  led  him  to  ''honor  the 
land  of  Zebulon  and  the  land  of  Naphthali,  where  the  peo- 
ple that  walked  in  darkness  were  to  see  a  great  light.'" 
In  one  of  these  tribes  Nazareth  was  situated ;  and  Caper- 
naum, in  the  other.  For  wise  reasons  he  took  Jei'usa- 
lem  in  his  way :  and  thence  his  route  lay  necessarily  through 
Samaria:  though  from  Bethaburu  he  might  have  gone  by 
the  large  caravan  road  up  the  east  side  of  the  river  with- 
out touching  either  Jerusalem  or  Samaria.  His  object, 
however,  was  to  deposit  the  seed'  of  gospel  truth  among 
the  hated  Samaritans. 

He  made  no  distinction  against  the  hereditary  enemies 
of  his  people:  but  having  begun  his  ministry  in  Galilee, 
and  then  in  Judea,  he  was  about  to  extend  the  same 
gospel  privileges  to  the  Samaritans.  He  made  no  race 
distinction  in  his  mighty  works,  blessing  with  equal 
kindness  Gentile  and  Samaritan.  Twice  he  vindicated 
the  cause  of  the  Gentiles  by  (-leansing  the  court  in  the 
temple  appropriated  to  them,  embracing  in  equal  affection 
all  humanity.  The  sixth  hour  of  the  day  found  him  sit- 
ting weary  and  hungry  upon  the  rock  platform  of  Jacob's 
well  near  the  citv  of  Svchar,  a  suburb  of  the  ancient  Shee- 


102  SKETCHES   FROM    THE    LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

hem.  The  apostle,  throu<»h  whom  he  intended  to  inaugu- 
rate his  work  of  love  among  the  Samaritans,  was  a  woman 
of  lax  life,  and  not  the  best  repute,  whom  the  necessities  of 
hei-  house  brought  at  that  hour  to  the  well  for  water.  God 
can  choose  his  own  instruments,  and  commence  a  revival 
of  purity,  morality  and  religion  by  an  outcast.  He  is  wise 
in  counsel,  excellent   in  working  and  sovereign  in  method. 

Jesus  introduced  the  interview  by  asking  her:  "(iiveme 
to  drink:'"  and  actually  drank  from  the  vessel  polluted  by 
tiie  unclean.  His  disciples  were  gone  away  unto  the  city 
to  buy  meat.  A  punctilious  Jew  would  neither  eat  the  bread 
noi-  drink  the  water  of  the  Samaritans,  when  compelled  to 
pass  through  their  land;  and  least  of  all  would  he  use 
the  vessels  of  the  accursed  race.  The  woman  was  surprised . 
and  justly  so.  at  a  Jew  devoid  of  hatred  of  her  peo|)le,  and 
even  of  contempt  for  a  woman:  and  not  onl}'  so,  but  dis- 
tinguished by  a  benignity  and  humanity  that  slione  out 
without  concealment:  and  couldn't  forbear  expressing  her 
astonishment  at  what  she  had  never  before  encountered. 
"  How  is  it  that  thou  being  a  Jew  askest  drink  of  me,  which 
am  a  woman  of  Samaria?''  Two  causes  of  wonder  affected 
her:  that  he  should  apply  for  relief  to  a  Samaritan,  and 
least  of  all  to  a  woman  of  the  interdicted  blood.  She  was 
evidently  i)ut  perfectly  at  her  ease  with  him.  Our  Lord 
of  course  answered  not  her  curiosity,  and  wasted  no  words: 
but  full  of  his  divine  mission  came  at  once  to  the  point. 
"If  thou  knewest  the  gift  of  God,"  what  wonderful  bless- 
ings he  has  to  be;^tow,  "and  wlio  it  is  that  saith  unto 
thee,  give  me  to  drink,  thou  wouldst  have  asked  of  him  : 
and  he  would  have  given  thee  living  water"  just  as  freely 
as  you  have  just  given  to  him.  He  directs  her  attention  to 
himself  as  God's  special  messenger  to  dispense  heavenly 
mercies:  who  waits  only  to  be  asked,  in  order  to  grant  re- 
freshments that  will  never  fail  in  their  reviving  power. 

Struck  still  more  by  the  air  and  tone  of  her  interviewer, 
she  looked  at  him  more  closely.  He  certainly  was  no  de- 
ceiver, and  possessed  evidently  the  fullest  consciousness  of 
greatness  and  power;  though  h<>  liad  just  been  begging 
water;  and  he  was  full  of  a  loving  earnestness  that  amazed 
her.     Her  growing  astonishment  shows  itself  in  her  words: 


HlSTOUIfAL   AND   DOCTHIXAL.  103 

•■'art  tlion  <iTeatei'  than  our  father  Jacob,  who  gave  us  the 
well,"'  which  we  consider  so  invaluable,  that  thou  hast 
greater  good  to  bestow?  Jesus  increases  her  wonder  by- 
his  reply  :  ''Whosoever  drinketh  of  this'"  or  any  other  earthly 
water  "shnll  thirst  again:  but  whosoever,  drinketh  of  the 
Avater,  that  I  shall  give  him,  shall  never  thirst;  but  the 
Avatei-  that  I  shall  give  him  shall  be  in  him,  a  well  of  water 
springing  up  unto  everlasting  life."  She  could  not  fail  now 
to  perceive  that  he  was  not  speaking  of  material  water; 
but  of  same  unknown  and  incomparable  boon,  which  he 
Avas  ready  to  bestow  for  the  asking.  While  it  was  described 
as  water,  it  strongly  contrasted  with  that  element;  and  in- 
dicated some  hidden  gift  not  obvious  to  the  world  of  ob- 
servers; but  springing  up  in  the  soul  unto  everlasting  life. 
It  could  be  called  water  only  by  a  figure.  It  would  resem- 
ble a  well  however  by  its  depth,  and  by  its  hidden  charac- 
ter. AVe  know  that  in  a  well  there  is  a  perennial  spring; 
but  from  whence  the  water  comes  we  know  not.  Its  origin 
and  supply  are  beyond  our  observation ;  it  may  not  de- 
pend at  all  on  surface  surroundings ;  but  nmy  come  from 
some  distant  and  mysterious  source.  However  dry  and 
parched  the  ground  above  may  be,  this  fails  not.  Deep  in 
the  bowels  of  the  earth,  the  waters  circulate  like  the  life  fluid 
in  the  arteries  and  veins  of  our  bodies.  So  to  the  soul 
that  asks,  (lod  imparts  a  heavenly  supply  deep  in  the  in- 
ner recesses  of  our  inmost  consciousness  beyond  our  own 
observation,  which  is  to  us  as  a  well  that  fails  not,  and 
whose  waters  are  akin  to  those  of  the  river,  that  flows 
from  the  throne  of  Uod. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  she  understood  distinctly 
all  what  he  was  speaking  of;  but  she  saw  that  h  ecertainly 
had  the  consciousness  of  inexhaustible  ability;  and  was 
apprised  of  resources  unknown  to  her;  and  as  she  looked 
upon  him,  great  thoughts  of  purity,  and  spiritual  refresh- 
ment, and  of  everlasting  life  swelled  in  her  bosom ;  and  she 
asked:  "Sir,  give  me  this  water:  that  I  thirst  not,  neither 
come  hither  to  draw,"  with  confused  ideas,  but  real  desire. 
This  was  the  point  to  which  the  Savior  was  leading  her. 
his  whole  effort  having  been  to  induce  her  to  ask.  At  once 
he  proceeded  to  business.     He  hears  many  very  poor  and 


104  SKETCHES  FROM   THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

imperfect  petitions,  if  sincere,  though  uot  much  abo\^e  the 
prayers  of  the  ra.vens  and  the  young  lions  ;  which  the  scrip- 
tures tell  us  that  he  hears  and  answers. 

This  woman  was  not  very  clear  in  her  conceptions;  but 
slie  knew  that  she  was  needy,  and  that  the  broken  cisterns  of 
earth  could  hold  no  water,  no  real  supply :  and  she  be- 
lieved that  the  singular  being  before  her  could  satisfy  her 
necessities.  Indeed  she  was  needy ;  she  was  standing  on  the 
very  brink  of  ruin ;  she  had  been  seeking  happiness  as  the 
brute  seeks  it,  until  she  was  outcast:  and  the  prospect  of 
something  better  took  great  hold  of  her;  and  she  at  last 
prayed.  Prayer  is  the  agony  of  the  heart  sick  of  earthly 
good,  which  is  as  "the  apples  of  Sodom  and  grapes  of  Go- 
morrah.'' She  was  in  no  new  frame  of  mind.  The  sad  facts 
of  her  condition  were  no  news  to  hei-;  but  one  was  before 
her,  who  seemed  to  bear  to  her  promise  of  souiething  bet- 
ter, some  inward  help  that  she  possessed  not.  Her  atten- 
tion through  the  whole  interview  seemed  to  be  turned  more 
to  him  than  to  heiself:  there  was  an  ever-increasing  reve- 
lation of  her  companion.  She  surrendered  herself  to  his 
directions:  and  submitted  her  case  foi-  his  help.  AVhile  she 
hardly  knew  for  what  she  asked,  she  sincerely  implored 
his  help. 

-  At  this  point  the  character  of  the  interview  changes  ab- 
rupth\  The  great  teacher  has  heard  her  praj^er,  and  is 
answering  her  request.  The  first  step  is  to  show  her  her 
own  heart.  His  words  are:  "Go,  call  thy  husband:''  and 
when  she  replied:  "I  have  no  husband:'"  Jesus  said  unto 
her,  "Thou  hast  wrfll  said,  I  have  no  husband:  for  thou 
hast  had  five  husbands;  and  he,  whom  thou  now  hast,  is 
not  thy  husband.  In  that  saidst  thou  truly."  This  was  a 
fiash  from  the  judgment  seat;  and  was  followed  probably 
by  a  long  silence  and  abundant  tears.  Conscience  was  per- 
forming its  office  \york :  the  candle  of  the  Lord  was  shining 
through  her  soul;  "all  things  that  ever  she  did"  were  pass- 
ing in  course  before  her  enlightened  view.  The  faithful  striv- 
ings of  the  spirit  of  truth,  whose  judgments  are  like  the 
piercings  of  a  sword,  engrossed  her  attention  to  the  ob- 
livion of  all  else.  Her  whole  life  was  re<"nacted  under  the 
keen,  bright  sunlight  of    divine    sci-utiuy.     She    was  being 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTHINAL.  105 

Aveighed  iu  tlie  balances  of  truth  and  purity,  and  found 
wanting'.  The  many-tongued  voice  of  condemnation  sounded 
from  every  side,  and  her  sins,  long  disregarded,  took  hold 
of  her  like  active  enemies  determined  to  destroy:  "the  ar- 
rows of  the  r^ord,  the  poison  whereof  drinketh  up  the 
spirit,"  were  rankling  in  her  heart.  'The  terrors  of  "the  Loi"d 
set  themselves  in  array  against  her;''  "the  commandment 
came;  sin  revived:  and  she  died.''  There  were  great  search - 
ings  of  heart. 

After  a  long  continued  pause,  the  woman  lifted  her  head 
and  said  amid  her  tears  and  sobs:  "Sir,  I  percieve  that 
thou  art  a  prophet.  Our  fathers  worshipped  in  this  moun- 
tain; and  ye  say,  that  in  Jerusalem  is  the  place  where 
men  ought  to  worship."  It  is  not  necessary  to  think, 
that  she  was  endeavoring  to  turn  off  the  conA^ersation  from 
personalities.  Worship  in  her  understanding  consisted 
mainly  of  place  and  form,  if  not  altogether,  and  this  was 
the  vital  question  of  her  sect.  She  knew  nothing  beyond 
the  mummery  of  a  cold  externalism.  Before  her  was  one 
competent  to  decide:  and  it  showed  a  great  concession  in 
her  to  submit  this  question  to  the  decision  of  a  Jew.  He 
had  become  her  spiritual  director.  It  is  natural  for  one 
hard  pressed  by  inward  conviction  to  seek  a  diversion  by 
a  discussion  of  something  external;  that  under  it  he  may 
escape  from  the  inquisition  of  the  secret,  of  the  heart;  but 
probably  this  is  not  a  correct  interpretation  of  this  refer- 
ence to  the  place  of  worship.  With  her  the  essential  point 
to  determine  was  where:  and  place  gave  all  its  acceptableness 
to  the  performance.  The  Jews  had  mutilated  their  own 
scriptures  in  changing  the  place  where  God  had  commanded 
an  altar  to  be  built.  The  Samaritan  Pentateuch  fixes 
Mount  Gerizim  at  whose  foot  the  conversation  was  being- 
had  as  the  place  for  the  altar:  while  the  Hebrew  Penta- 
teuch names  Mount  Ebal  as  the  place.  Our  Lord  evidently 
acknowledges  the  truth  of  the  Samaritan  copy. 

Our  Loi'd's  answer  to  this  inquiry  of  the  woman  allows 
that  it  was  honestly  made,  and  that  it  was  no  dodge,  nor 
subterfuge.  His  statement  could  but  carry  overpowering 
conviction  with  it;  that  neither  place,  nor  form  nor  atti- 
tude   nor    bodily-    service    was  of   the    e.ssence    of  worship- 


106  SKETCHES   FUOM   THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

God  is  a  spirit,  and  is  worshipped  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 
Wherever  the  spirit  bows  to  God  is  a  holy  pUice.  As  (lod 
cannot  be  restricted  to  place,  so  neither  can  his  worship 
be  confined  to  any  definite  spot.  The  lions'  den  was  a 
holy  place  to  Daniel :  as  was  the  whale's  belly  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  sea  to  Jonah :  and  the  bancpietino;  room  of  a 
heathen  palace  to  Nehemiah.  The  omnipresent  one  listens 
to  the  needs  of  his  creatures  wherever  they  may  be  found. 
Bloody  sacrifices  and  material  offering-  are  to  be  presented 
at  his  altar  in  Jerusalem  ;  and  in  this  respect,  the  Jews 
have  the  precedence  over  all  the  nations  of  the  earth. 
"■Salvation  is  of  the  Jews.'* 

But  as  the  father  of  the  race,  (lod  is  accessible  from  any 
point;  provided  the  approach  to  him  be  made  not  with 
the  body,  but  with  the  spirit  and  in  truth.  It  must  be  at- 
tempted only  with  the  utmost  sincerity.  Nothing  do  we 
instinctively  spurn  more  than  dissimulation  and  h^^pocrisy  : 
and  God  "desireth  truth  in  the  inward  parts.''  He  is  too 
great  to  be  mocked,  too  wise  to  be  deceived,  and  too  true 
himself  to  suffer  attempted  imposition.  Instead  of  bring- 
ing- H:  bleeding-  lamb  or  bleeding  bullock  a  bleeding  heart 
should  be  brought;  for  the  humble  and  the  contrite  heart 
is  the  sacrifice  with  Avhicli  God  is  well  pleased.  This  well  is 
the  holy  place;  this  the  acceptable  offering:  and  the  present  is 
the  time.  Her  whole  existence  seemed  to  concentrate  into 
the  hour  spent  with  the  heavenly  stranger.  It  was  the 
season  in  whicli  a  lifetime's  work  was  to  be  accomplished. 
He,  who  knows  well  how  to  bring  a  soul  into  the  valley  of 
decision,  had  well  performed  his  work.  Meridian  sunlight 
never  more  effectually  banished  the  darkness  of  nature: 
than  these  teachings,  commending  themselves  unhesitat- 
ingly to  the  soundness  of  common  reason,  scattered  all  the 
mists  of  ritualism ;  and  brought  the  full  day  into  the  soul 
of  his  auditor. 

Stale  as  these  hackne^'ed  truths  seem  to  us:  to  the  one  who 
listened  in  speechless  surprise,  they  seemed  the  very  utter- 
ance of  divine  wisdom,  and  suggested  to  her  (juick  apj)re- 
hension  the  speedj'  a])pearance  of  Messiah.  It  might  be 
that  he  was  before  her,  the  long  looked  for  Messias;  and 
so  she  said:     "I  know  that  Messias  conieth,  which  is  called 


•  HISTOUKAL   AND  DOCTKINAL.  107 

Christ:  when  he  i.s  come,  he  will  teach  ii8  all  things."'  It 
was  even  as  she  thought.  '"Jesus  saitli  unto  her:  I  that 
speak  unto  thee  am  he.""  This  was  not  said  for  the  grati- 
fication of  an  unholy  curiosity ;  but  to  enable  his  hearer 
to  repose  her  full  confidence  in  him,  as  the  only  authorita- 
tive guide  of  the  soul :  and  feel  that  she  was  then  resting  on 
the  rock  of  ages  in  so  doing. 

How  rapidly  he  had  risen  in  her  estimation !  At  first  he 
was  merely  a  Jew  of  ca]itivating  appearance,  condescend- 
ing manners,  and  benign  feeling.  Soon  she  was  sensible  of 
a  certain  greatness  about  him  bringing  him  into  compar- 
ison with  our  father  Jacob,  who  had  given  them  the  water. 
It  was  not  long  before  she  pieceived  unerringly  that  he 
was  a  prophet:  and  after  listening  a  short  season  to  his 
tea<'hings.  that  carried  irresistible  conviction  with  every 
word;  it  dawned  upon  her  that  he  might  be  the  man  of 
promise,  the  one  greater  than  prophets.  While  a  fiood  of 
light  had  come  upon  her  revealing  her  to  herself,  and 
making  her  in  a  short  time  acquainted  with  all  the  intrica- 
cies of  her  own  heart:  this  same  light  had  revealed  another 
being  standing  at  her  side,  as  she  awoke  from  her  dream 
of  sensuous  life,  to  whom  her  heart  went  out  as  it  would 
to  no  otlipi-,  in  simple  trust.  The  good  shepherd  had  found 
his  wandering  sheep:  the  father  had  received  back  his  prod- 
igal child:  the  Savioi-  had  arrested  her  on  the  very  brink 
of  the  pit:  and  she  was  delivered  and  redeemed.  She  well 
understood  now  the  meaning  of  the  living  water,  and  the 
well  deep  down  in  her  lowest  consciousness,  whose  spring- 
ing up  is  unto  evei'lasting  life.  She  felt  the  refreshment  of 
its  draught,  and  would  never  thirst  again  foi-  the  filthy 
]3ools,  out  of  which  she  had  been  drinking  all  her  life.  To 
her  the  well  of  salvation  would  never  fail  in  its  su])ply, 
and  her  sin-sick  soul  would  seek  no  other  water. 

The  suddenness  of  this  discovery  heightened  its  glory; 
she  was  as  one  translated  out  of  the  kingdom  of  darkness, 
into  the  kingdom  of  (iod's  dear  son.  The  great  unseen  had 
become  to  her  a  reality,  and  heaven  was  in  full  view.  The 
unknown  God  was  "ver^-  present:*"  and  she  had  found  one 
henceforth  better  and  dearer  than  life.  She  had  been  more 
occupied  with  him  than  with  herself;  and  while  he  had  been 


108  SKETCHES    FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS.  , 

sending  the  light  into  her  soul  dark  recesses :  that  light  had 
so  reflected  upon  himself;  as  to  discover  him  to  be  her  vi-ion, 
as  the  one  able  to  teach  us  all  things:  who  can  answer 
ever^^  question:  settle  every  difficulty:  and  remove  evei-y 
mountain  from  our-  path. 

The  return  of  the  disciples  with  food  occurred  just  at 
this  juncture,  who  were  greatly  astonished  at  finding  him 
in  conversation  with  the  woman.  Those  who  knew  him 
best  were  astonished  at  his  condescension  to  a  Samaritan, 
and  a  woman ;  and  were  far  from  anticipating  the  glorious 
result  of  this  seemingly  accidental  encounter:  until  they 
saw  the  crowd  issuing  from  the  city  in  search  of  their 
Mastei'.  In  consequence  they  made  no  inquiry  concerning 
his  object  in  talking  with  her.  and  were  not  looking  for 
an3'  such  outcome  as  developed  from  it:  and  paid  no  at- 
tention to  what  had  passed.  Intent  on  satisfying  their 
own  hunger,  they  thought  of  little  else,  except  to  prevail 
upon  him  to  take  the  refreshment,  which  they  knew  he  so 
much  needed  from  his  previous  exhaustion,  and  faintness 
from  hunger,  thirst,  and  weariness. 

Animated  as  he  was  by  the  impression  made  upon  the 
woman,  and  preoccupied  with,  the  great  work  just  opening 
before  him,  he  became  insensible  of  the  pangs  of  hunger: 
and  utterly  refused  the  least  morsel  of  noui-ishment,  say- 
ing: "I  have  meat  to  eat,  that  ye  know  not  of.''  From 
this  we  see  how  intense  his  emotions  were  over  the  repent- 
ance of  one  sinner,  and  the  prospect  of  a  lodgement  of  the 
truth  in  one  of  the  cities  of  the  despised  and  hated  Samari- 
tans. Great  excitea!ents  are  generally  followed  by  such 
effects.  The  conversion  of  a  single  soul  was  sufficient  to 
make  him  forget  the  demands  of  nature.  While  this  dem- 
onstrates the  eagei'uess  and  depth  of  his  interest,  it  proves 
e(iually  his  perfect  liumanit3\  ''In  all  things  he  was  made 
like  unto  his  brethren;"  susceptible  to  all  the  subtle  infiu- 
ences,  by  which  the  body  and  soul  act  and  react  upon  each 
other.  The  revolution  of  kingdoms  might  excite  him  less 
than  the  salvation  of  a  sinner. 

That  this  was  a  case  of  undoubted  (conversion,  we  per- 
ceive in  hei-  feelings  and  conduct.  She  forgot  her  own 
waiting  table,  and  preparations  for  the  meal;   and  hurried 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  109 

off  to  bear  her  testiiiiony,  and  lead  others  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  Christ ;  and  in  all  the  succeediu<>"  history  of  his  stay 
at  Sychar,  she  appears  as  the  ])roniinent  witness  to  the 
ti'utli  of  his  claims. 

Her  testimony  seemed  to  have  a  most  convincing-  effect, 
notwithstanding  her  previous  life;  owing  to  her  complete 
absorption  in  the  cause,  and  to  the  evident  change  in  her- 
self. Had  she  struck  a  mine  of  gold  or  gems,  she  could 
not  have  been  more  elevated :  and  the  slightest  fellowship 
with  Jesus  imparts  a  kindred  desire  to  communicate  in  oi'dei' 
that  others  may  share.  It  is  plain  also  that  Gentiles  and 
Samai'itans  were  more  easily  convinced  than  Jews,  whose 
misleading  preconceptions  of  the  Messiah,  ever  formed  an 
insurmountable  obstacle  to  the  reception  of   the  Nazai-ene. 

He  taiTied  at  Sychar,  and  taught  for  two  da3's;  and 
every  word  carried  conviction  with  it,  and  fell  u])on  the 
hearts  of  the  hearers  like  an  arrow  tipped  with  atoning 
blood.  We  are  not  informed  that  he  performed  a  single 
miracle.  Signs  were  necessary  for  the  Jews:  but  to  souls 
open  to  the  truth,  the  very  doctrine  itself  was  its  own  best 
proof;  as  it  commends  itself  to  evei'y  man's  conscience, 
finds  an  echo  in  every  soul,  and  is  demonstrated  by  the 
teaching  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  The  human  wisdom  of  six 
thousand  years'  growth,  condensed  into  the  tersest  phrase- 
ology, seemed  folly  compared  with  the  ordinary  sayings  of 
Jesus.  Not  only  was  the  truth  of  his  teachings  felt,  and 
their  power;  but  it  was  equalh'  plain  and  undeniable,  that 
he  was  not  delivering  a  message  from  another,  so  much  as 
speaking  out  of  "the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge," 
whose  fulness  resided  in  him.  All  the  secrets  of  God  were 
his  in  reserve. 

Truth  has  an  irresistible,  native  force;  it  comes  with  an 
inherent,  divine  authority;  it  is  the  most  precious  object 
in  the  universe,  it  is  the  effulgence  which  makes  the  un- 
created throne  too  bright  for  mortal  eves.  The  light  in 
which  God  dwells  is  the  symbol  of  truth.  Jesus  Christ  was 
the  truth  incarnate.  The  openino-  of  his  mouth  like  the 
rising  of  the  sun  brought  the  perfect  day.  Miracles  only 
called  attention  to  him,  as  the  depository  of  divine  truth. 
They  were  not  needed  for  these  Samaritans;  they  "heard 


110  SKETCHES    FIJOM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESLS. 

iiiiii  tlioinselves.  and  knew  that  he  was  the  Christ,  tlje 
►Savior  of  the  world,"  aiul  needed  not  the  testimony  of  tlie 
woman,  nor  anv  other  jiroof  besides.  Jesns  says  respecting- 
tlieni:  ''Say  not  there  are  yet  fonr  months  more  and  then 
cometh  harvest:  but  I  say  unto  you  tlie  fields  are  already 
white  unto  the  harvest.""  The  harvest  has  already  begun 
here;  and  this  woman  is  the  first  sheaf  gathered  into  the 
granary  of  (lod.  followed  indeed  by  "many""  others,  on 
whom  her  influence  was  auxilliary. 

Like  her  every  one  who  receives  the  words  of  Christ,  be- 
cause a  sowtn-;  his  words  are  the  precious  seed  to  be  dissem- 
inated and  deposited  in  ever-y  soil.  There  is  about  them 
a  vitality,  which  ensures  their  continuance  in  the  ground 
until  a  favorable  season  ari-ives  foi'  their  development.  A 
i-ea])er  long  afterwards  may  find  an  abundant  harvest, 
where  for  many  years  no  promise  existed.  The  sower  may 
have  pei'formed  his  work  in  tears,  which  is  generally  the 
case  in  s]»iritual  agiiculture;  tears  over  the  inefficiency  of 
means,  the  bai-renness  of  soil,  and  the  want  of  success  in 
efforts:  but  the  reaper  gathers  in  joy. 

When  great  effects  should  attend  the  labors  of  the  apostles, 
as  would  surely  be  the  case,  they  were  to  remember  that 
the  most  laborious  part  of  the  work  had  been  accomplished 
by  others  amid  discouragements  and  heart  breakings:  and 
that  to  God  alone  belongs  all  the  glory  of  all  the  good  ac- 
complished by  all  the  workers  in  his  great  field,  who  in  due 
time  will  fill  the  hearts  of  sowers  and  reapers  with  heavenly 
Joy.  when  the  sheaves  ai'e  gathered  into  the  granary  of 
eternal  life.  5 


HISTOKIf'AL    AM)    DOrTHINAl..  Ill 


CHAl'TERXI. 


RECOVERY  OF  THE  CENTURION'S  SERVANT  IN  CAPERNAUM. 


When  our  Lord  coiniiieiieed  his  iiiiuistrj,  his  mission,  as 
he  ])roclaimed  it,  was  to  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of 
Israel;  and  his  favors  were  desioned  for  them.  Had  this 
not  been  the  fact,  lie  could  not  have  been  received  by  the 
Jews  at  all;  and  his  claims  would  not  have  been  consider- 
ed worthy-  of  attention.  Mi<>'hty  woi'ks  showed  forth  them- 
selves in  him.  works  of  priceless  benefit  to  helpless  suffer- 
ers; I'elieving  all  the  maladies  of  humanity;  but  they  were 
wrought  for  the  sufferers  in  Israel.  The  superiority  of  the 
Jew  was  so  extravagantly  insisted  on  by  themselves,  and 
his  right  to  a  preference  above  others  in  all  (lod's  merciful 
dealings ;  that  not  many  instances  are  recorded  in  the  gos- 
pels of  favors  accorded  to  aliens.  Our  I^ord  however  ex- 
tended his  benefits  to  others  than  Jews;  whenever  it  was 
possible  to  do  so  without  prejudice  to  his  mission. 

The  case  of  this  centurion  at  Capernaum  was  an  in- 
stance, in  which  a  benefit  to  a  Gentile  was  also  a  gratifi- 
cation to  the  Jewish  community ;  even  the  elders  of  the 
synagogue  interceding  for  it ;  and  the  centurion  himself 
through  conscious  un worthiness  declining  to  apply  in  i)er- 
son  to  the  master.  These  elders  thought  it  needful  to 
labor  with  Jesus,  in  order  to  secure  his  interference  in  be- 
half of  their  benefactor:  attributing  to  him  a  Jewish  pre- 
judice like  their  own;  not  aw'are  that  he  was  come  to 
destroy  that  bigotry,  as  the  sun  scatters  the  mists  of 
night. 

The  date  of  this  miracle  is  fixed  at  our  Lord's  return  from 
the  Mount  of  Beatitudes.  Two  of  the  evangelists  relate  it  in 
such  manner  as  to  forbid  the  suspicion  of  collusion.  Mat- 
thew gives  it  in  such  dress,  as  though  the  applicant  him- 
self were  personally  present  to  urge  his  case :  while  we  learn 


112  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

from  JAike,  that  the  contrary  was  the  fact;  and  that  there 
was  no  personal  encounter  between  the  prophet  and  the 
sohlier  until  the  very  close  of  the  whole  occurrence. 

The  object  of  Matthew  in  his  history  is  to  set  forth  the 
kingly  character  of  his  master;  and  of  this  he  never  loses 
sight.  The  centurion's  ascription  to  him  of  a  kingly  com- 
mand over  all  the  material  and  spiritual  forces  of  the  uni- 
verse, authorized  and  confirmed  by  the  Master  himself,  and 
verified  by  the  actual  cure  of  the  servant,  was  the  main 
feature  of  the  case  to  his  mind.  The  result  showed  that 
Jesus  wns  king,  as  described. 

The  ke^niote  of  Luke's  gosjDel  is  quite  different.  Himself 
a  Gentile,  and  an  intimate  associate  of  the  apostle  to 
the  Gentiles,  felt  a  different  kind  of  interest  in  the  transac- 
tion. It  touched  him  in  a  tenderer  spot.  Having  been 
overcome  with  astonishment  at  the  grace  of  Jesus  to  Saul  of 
Tarsus,  he  fills  his  memoirs  with  all  the  instances,  which 
he  can  collect,  of  Christ's  merc}^  to  Gentiles,  and  to  the 
chief  of  sinners.  Hence  "Luke's  account  is  the  fuller  of  the 
two  histories;  and  bears  the  traces  of  the  intense  intei'est 
of  the  writer  in  its  very  tone.  His  soul  throbs  with  sym- 
pathy' at  every  utterance  of  a  deep  consciousness  of  un- 
worthiness  by  a  sinner:  and  stands  transfixed  with  amaze- 
ment at  the  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

Few  more  interesting  personages  pass  before  our  view  in 
the  Gospel  historj'  than  this  Roman  captain.  Instances  of 
piety  are  not  so  common  in  the  profession  of  arms:  and 
when  they  occur,  they  are  more  conspicuous  by  reason  of 
their  infi'equency.  Besides,  there  are  things  connected  with 
a  soldier's  life,  which  help  to  develop  in  occasional  cases  a 
very  high  grade  of  the  most  fervent  devotion.  Such  are 
the  habit  of  unhesitating  obedience  to  authority,  the  de- 
cision of  character  which  becomes  a  second  nature,  the 
boldness  and  daring  cultivated  by  the  class  even  to  the 
jeopardy  of  life.  From  such  causes  there  sometimes  appear 
the  most  shining  examples  of  piety  among  military  men. 
Many  such  are  presented  in  the  scriptures  from  Joshua  to 
David ;  when  the  bravest  heroes  of  the  battlefield  were  the 
holiest  men.    And  in  later  times,  mention  needs  only  to  be 


H[STORICAL   AXO    DOCTKINAL.  113 

made  of  Havelock  and  Gordon  and  (Jardnei-  to  satisfy  us 
that  an  humble  Christianity  may  be  the  hio-hest  ornament 
of  a  soldier. 

Such  an  one  meets  our  view  in  the  brief  description  of 
this  centurion.  Having-  his  permanent  headquarters  in 
Capernaum,  he  had  long  been  a  proselyte  to  Judaism  He 
had  abandoned  idols  for  the  one  living  and  true  God.  The 
emptiness  and  folly  of  heathenism  had  been  forsaken  for 
the  sublime,  elevating,  and  invigorating  creed  of  monoth- 
ism.  Though  a  citizen  of  the  city  which  had  conquej-ed  the 
world,  he  had  been  conquered  by  the  truth  held  by  a  sub- 
ject and  despised  race.  He  loved  the  nation  of  the  Jews  as 
being  the  people  of  God,  and  the  depository  of  the  oracles 
of  truth :  and  at  large  ex]3ense  had  built  thein  a  synagogue. 
Such  a  man  stood  alone,  in  the  armies  of  the  day;  and 
was  able  to  stand  alone,  with  the  respect  of  fi-iend  and 
opposer  as  well.    Downright  sincerity  commands  respect. 

He  could  read  the  scriptures  of  the  Old  Testament  with 
a  better  understanding  of  them  than  the  Jew :  because  he 
was  not  hampered  by  the  Jewish  preconception  of  a  worldly 
hero  in  their  expected  Messiah.  This  veil  was  not  over  his 
eyes.  The  divinity  of  the  coming  one,  however  plainly  an- 
nounced in  the  prophetic  records,  had  lapsed  fi-om  the  creed 
of  the  Jew ;  and  the  claim  of  it,  in  the  case  of  the  Naza- 
rene,  made  him  a  stone  of  stumbhng  and  rock  of  offence. 
This  once  heathen  read  the  word  of  God  with  a  better  un- 
derstanding. He  was  looking  for  one,  "a  child  given,  a 
son  born"  to  the  Jews,  who  could  appropriate  the  title  of 
"the  mighty  God,  the  Everlasting  Father,  the  Prince  of 
Peace,  of  the  increase  of  whose  government  and  peace 
there  should  be  no  end,  upon  the  throne  of  David  to  order  it 
and  establish  it  with  judgment  and  with  justice,  from  hence- 
forth even  forever."' 

What  first  attracts  attention  in  his  words  is  his  evident 
and  wonderful  humility,  so  unexpected  in  a  Roman;  the 
same  humility  before  Christ,  which  he  felt  in  the  profound- 
est  abasement  of  his  soul  before  the  holy  and  heart-search- 
ing Jehovah.  We  gain  from  these  words  the  reason  why 
he  had  not  presented  himself  as  the  suitor  for  the  desired 
favor.    There  is  but  one  being  before  whom  the  hunmn  soul 


11-4  SKKTCHES    FI{(>M    THK    LIFK   (>K   .IKSIS. 

can  take  such  an  attitude.  Angels  wlio  have  never  sinned 
are  Jiunible:  men.  who  know  tliemselves  to  be  sinners,  can 
find  no  place  low  cuon.uli  for  tlieni  to  occupy,  no  dust 
mean  enoujih. 

In  the  whole  ministry  of  the  Son  of  (Jod.  no  one  was 
found  who  more  correctly  realized  the  impassable  dis- 
tance between  him  and  men.  The  feelin«s  of  this  Roman 
officer  resemble  those  of  the  disciples,  after  the  resurrection 
of  their  master  had  overawed  them.  They  had  previously 
indeed  acknowledoed  him  as  truly  divine:  but  had  been 
far  from  api)reliending-  the  measureless  significance  of  the 
admission.  This  nmn  fully  i-ealized  what  they  in  words 
professed.  What  they  believed,  he  knew:  and  the  sense  of 
it  crushed  him.  He  did  not  so  much  believe  Jesus  to  be 
the  Messiah,  the  Son  of  God,  as  he  felt  and  knew  it.  His 
conviction  had  the  certainty  of  knowledge.  Nothing  is  in 
the  sight  of  God  more  lovely  and  distinguishing  than  a 
contrite  and  humble  spirit.  It  is  the  dwelling  i)lace  of  the 
High  and  Lofty  one.  "To  this  man  will  I  look,  who  is 
poor  and  of  a  contrite  sjnrit;"  as  we  cannot  keep  our  eyes- 
off  from  one,  whom  we  love.  The  centurion's  humility 
showed  itself  in  his  tender  concern  for  his  servant,  who  was^ 
suffering  •'grievously."  As  we  sink  before  God  in  oui-  owi» 
estimation,  our  fellow-men  rise  in  pi-oportion  in  our  hearts: 
their  welfare  becomes  like  our  own. 

Our  lord  had  far  more  regard  to  the  faith  of  the  Gentile, 
well  known  to  him,  than  he  had  to  the  intercession  of  the 
elders,  when  they  a?p.>plied  to  him:  and  said  in  answer  to 
their  pleas:  "I  will  come  and  heal  him:"'  and  started  im- 
mediately towards  the  house  in  company  with  them.  When 
he  arrived  in  its  immediate  neighborhood,  in  view 
from  the  house:  and  the  soldier  saw  that  our  Lord  wan 
])ersonally  coming;  he  s^'ut  fi-iends  who  were  present  in 
ipiite  a  company  to  sympathize,  to  meet  him  and  say  in 
his  own  name:  "Lord  trouble  not  thyself:  for  I  am  not 
worthy  that  thou  shouldest  come  under  my  roof:  wherefore, 
jieither  thought  I  myself  worthy  to  come  unto  thee.  But 
say  in  a  word  and  my  servant  shall  be  healed:  for  [  also 
am  a  man  sel   under  .nithority,  having  under   me   soldiers: 


HISTOinCAL    AM)    DOCTKINAL.  115 

an<l  1  say  unto  oue  go:  and  he  goeth:  and  to  another  come: 
and  he  cometh:  and  to  my  servant  do  this:  and  he  doetli 
it.'' 

Whence  had  he  derived  so  just  and  discriminating  a  faith? 
He  may  have  been  personally  conversant  with  the  case  of 
the  nobleman's  son,  sick  unto  death  in  this  very  city,  who 
had  been  healed  by  our  Lord  while  in  Cana  of  Galilee.  That 
incident  (3ertainly  revealed  the  supreme  divinity  of  the 
Savior  in  brighter  demonstration  than  his  ordinary  works: 
wlien  his  word  was  instantaneouslv  effective  at  a  distance 
of  twenty  miles;  and  the  djing  boy  rose  from  his  couch 
in  the  exuberance  of  rollicking  health. 

This  applicant,  surpi'ised  b^y  the  personal  approach  of 
the  Savior,  hastened  to  signify  his  sense  of  unfitness  to  re- 
ceive under  his  roof  the  one,  whose  control  even  of  the  sub- 
tle powei's  of  nature  knows  no  limit  of  time  or  space.  Our 
Savior's  condescension  oppressed  him. 

A  divine  light  had  guided  him  in  the  reading  of  the  Old 
Testament  scriptures,  which  are  exceedingly  explicit  in  this 
statement  of  the  supreme  divinity  of  the  coming  Messiah; 
no  one  thing  pertaining  to  him  being  more  constantly  as- 
serted by  descriptions,  which  admit  of  no  other  meaning. 
The  best  interpreter  is  a  broken  heart  sensible  of  its  need 
of  divine  teaching,  and  accepting  it  with  undoubting 
confidence.  The  proud  soldier  had  become  a  little  child; 
and  surpassed  others  in  clearness  and  depth  of  perception: 
distinguishing  fanciful  interpretations  from  the  solid  truths 
of  the  word.  Knowing  his  appreciation  of  his  visitor,  we 
are  not  astonished,  that  he  was  overcome  at  the  thought, 
that  the  majest}^  of  heaven  was  waiting  at  his  door. 

His  faith  was  superior  to  that  of  Martha  and  Mary  who 
said:  ''Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been  here,  our  brother-  would 
not  have  died."  It  was  superior  to  the  faith  of  the  disci- 
ples, which  proved  itself  wavering  and  variable,  until  after 
the  crowning  wonders  of  their  Master's  career.  It  was  left 
for  this  recent  convert  from  heathenism  to  penetrate  more 
deeply  into  the  secrets  of  the  mystery  of  the  God-man,  than 
those  who  enjoyed  the  pi-ivilege  of  the  closest  intimacy'  with 
him. 


1  I(i  SKI/I'i  HES   FROM    THK   LIFK   OF   JESUS. 

This  histor.x-  demonstrates  the  ample  sutfideiicy  of  the 
Old  Testament  sciiptnies  for  all  the  purposes  of  our  in- 
struction and  salvation.  They  are  by  no  means  to  be 
eclipsed  by  the  additional  and  clearer  lioht  of  the  New. 
These  l)ooks.  formally  read  in  the  synagogue,  and  the 
reading  was  very  formal,  molded  characters,  which  have 
become  historic. 

The  services  of  the  synagogue,  in  one  respect,  excelled 
tiiose  of  the  modern  church.  The  time  not  consumed  in 
))i-ayers  was  generally  occupied  in  the  reading  of  the  word 
of  God,  the  whole  of  which  historical,  prophetic;  and  de- 
votional was  rehearsed  every  3'ear  in  the  hearing  of  the 
w  orshippers.  The  addresses  made'  were  principally  exegeti- 
cal  explanations  of  the  portions  I'ead.  A  child-like  faith  is 
comi)etent  to  df^rive  from  these  writings  all  truth,  which 
they  were  designed  to  impart.  It  not  only  receives  the 
truth:  it  ignores  and  rejects  what  is  not  revealed,  distin- 
guishing the  precious  from  the  vile. 

Whether  the  centurion's  first  couvictiou  of  the  messiah- 
ship  of  Jesus  was  derived  from  the  testimony  of  John  the 
Ba])tist,  who,  probably  before  his  arrest  and  incarceration. 
l)reached  at  the  court  of  xVntripas;  or  from  his  pei'soual 
knowledge  of  the  cure  of  the  nobleman's  sick  son,  or  from 
other  sources;  his  faith  needed  no  multiplication  of  evi- 
dences. A  single  one  of  the  signal  works  of  Jesus  was 
sufficient  to  certify  to  him  his  divinity.  Such  was  the 
man's  decision  of  character,  that  sufficient  evidence  was  to 
him  demonstration^^    He  needed  no  more. 

This  military  leader  derived  his  idea  of  our  Lord's  ])ower 
from  a  comparison  with  his  own.  He  was  one  who  possess- 
ed authority,  and  was  conscious  of  commaud.  His  per- 
sonal presence  was  not  necessary  to  the  accomplishment  of 
his  will:  it  was  only  necessary  for  him  to  issue  his  oi'ders 
to  soldiers  or  servants.  The  whole  authority  of  Rome  was 
behind  him  to  enforce  compliance  with  his  mandate.  He 
knew  what  it  was  to  exercise  authority,  and  to  be  impli- 
citly obeyed. 

He  conceived  Christ  as  standing  at  the  centre  of  univer- 
sal  dominion,   and   wielding  the  authority   of  divine  com- 


HISTOKKAL    AND    l)OrTF{i.\AI..  117 

mand.  The  uuseen  agencies  and  forces  of  nature  took 
their  oi-ders  trom  him.  The  Hniitations  whieli  confine  men 
had  no  application  to  him.  The  earth  conld  not  hold  him 
withcjnt  his  own  consent:  for  his  presence  had  a  connec- 
tion with  the  invisible  operations  by  which  all  things  con- 
sist. Wherever  his  bodily  presence  might  be,  it  was  only 
necessary  for  him  to  say  the  word,  go;  and  disease  would 
go  at  his  bidding.  Miracles  were  as  easy  to  him  as  the 
breathing  of  the  word  go,  or  come;  or  as  servants  obey 
the  wave  of  the  hand,  or  any  other  signal  of  the  pleasure 
of  their  Lord  however  ?<light :  so  at  the  will  of  Jesus  all 
the  powers  of  the  unseen  move  in  obedience.  All  ^vait  on 
him  for  direction:  just  as  in  an  arm^-,  one  will,  without 
counsel  from  without,  directs  every  movement.  Our  Lord 
pronounced  this  statement  to  be  sober  truth  and  actual 
fact.  Our  Jesus  does  stand  at  the  centre  of  all  power: 
and  all  agencies  existing  wait  on  him  for  orders.  He  says 
go:  and  they  go:  come:  and  they  come:  do  this:  and  they 
do  it. 

But  while  this  officer  thus  admitted  to  Chri.-,t  the  em- 
pire over  all  things:  he  also  owned  him  as  the  rightful 
sovereign  of  his  own  heart  and  life,  to  whom  he  paid  a 
more  than  military  obedience.  Faith  not  only  trusts; 
it  also  obex's.  Jesus  was  the  leader,  whom  he  acknowl- 
edged as  the  captain  of  his  salvation,  the  authorized  in- 
terpreter of  the  will  of  God :  and  was  none  the  worse  sol- 
dier on  that  account.  He  continued  in  the  same  calling, 
in  which  he  had  been  called  :  and  discharged  its  duties  from 
a  Christian  motive.  Enlisted  in  the  service  of  Herod  Antipas, 
he  would  never  be  false  to  his  colors,  or  belie  his  religious 
convictions.  Receiving  Jesus  as  prophet,  he  received  him 
also  as  king. 

The  announcement  of  the  advent  of  the  long-expected 
heavenly  messenger,  who  should  inaugurate  a  world  wide 
kingdom  of  peace  and  love,  had  peculiar  recommendations 
to  one  acquainted  with  the  horrors  of  war,  and  heart  sick 
of  them.  Rome's  proud  boast  of  universal  empire  was  far 
from  being  realized;  but  the  Nazarene  was  erecting  a  king- 
dom, which  promised  with  certainty  to  realize  the  sublime 


118  sKi:i'(  ni;s  iKOM  the  iavi:  of  jksis. 

idfvi:  nol  an  cin^niv  of  force,  but  one  resting  uu  the  lov- 
ing consent  of  the  go  veined.  He,  who  could  meditate  so 
niiuiity  and  novel  an  undertaking,  could  be  no  less  than 
divine.  Under  him  this  Roman  soldier  had  enhsted  to  con- 
tend, not  with  carnal  weapons;  his  arms  were  truth,  love, 
and  praver.  And  he  had  the  fullest  confidence  in  his  leader, 
which  is  the  chief  requisite  of  a,  soldier. 

The  idea  of  the  union  of  all  nations  in  one  brotherhood, 
bound  together  by  the  tie  of  loyalty  to  one  supreme  rulei-, 
captivated  the  heart  of  the  lioman,  and  made  him  a  will- 
ing subject.  The  foundation  of  this  kingdom  was  to  be 
the  Lord  Messiah,  the  ftaaiXev^,  fJaai^  Lao^  the  founda- 
tion of  the  people.  To  this  King-  he  submitted  his  heart, 
and  subjected  his  life.  The  Savior  had  not  a  truer  fol- 
lower, or  one  who  better  understood  or  appreciated  him 
on  the  earth,  ^^'ith  his  firm  and  unfaltering  attachment 
to  the  Xazarene,  he  could  still  be  loxal  to  an  earthly  mas- 
ter, and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  trusts:  but  the 
horizon  of  his  view  was  wide:  and  his  heart  expanded  with 
the  anticipation  of  an  entirely  new  order  of  things,  under 
the  rule  of  the  Prince  of  Peace.  The  men,  who  hate  war 
the  most  thoroughly,  are  often  those  who  have  seen  the 
most  of  it:  and  those  who  most  heartily  approve  manage- 
ment by  peaceful  methods,  are  such  as  have  had  large  ex- 
]>erience  of  rule  by  brute  force.  When  our  Lord  received 
the  centurion's  message  through  the  friends  whom  he  had 
sent,  his  ju'ogress  toward  the  house  was  immediately  ar- 
rested :  and  he  exg^ressed  his  surprise  at  the  faith  of  the 
Gentile.  Its  clearness  of  perception,  its  ])ositiveness  of  de- 
cision, and  its  spirituality  ])lace  it  above  all  otlier  recorded 
in  the  Gospels. 

This  man  had  no  common  curiosilN-  about  the  ]\[aster  or 
the  miracle  to  gi-atify;  all  such  feeling  was  ovei'borne  by 
his  greatei-  regard  to  the  invisible,  indwelling  deity,  to  be 
seen  by  the  eye  of  faith  alone.  It  was  doubtless  a  privi- 
lege to  be  coveted  to  behold  the  man  Christ  Jesus,  to  hear 
his  voice,  to  catch  the  ex])ression  of  his  speaking  eye  and 
mobile  face,  to  witness  the  ]»erformance  of  a  miracle.  The 
man  he  had  donl)tlpss  se»^n  befort'  in  the  assemblies  of  the 


HISTOIMCAI,    A.Vn    DOCTKINAI..  119 

synag-ogue;  but  vulgai-  curiovsitj  was  laekiM<i-  in  liiin.  We 
tire  told  that  Moses  did  not  dare  to  look  upon  the  form 
in  the  flames  of  the  huvuinii'  bush,  when  he  had  tlie  oppor- 
tunity. When  Abraham  was  privileged  to  speak  with  God 
in  behalf  of  Sodom  and  (lomorrha,  his  words  were  few; 
fear  held  his  tongue  dumb,  except  for  the  briefest  interces- 
sion, A  degree  of  this  same  feeling  in  the  Eoman  stifled  all 
profane  curiosity  so  common  to  mankind.  The  object  be- 
fore the  mind  of  the  centurion  was  the  God,  and  not  the 
man.  The  more  his  faith  is  considered,  the  more  the  world 
will  marvel.  The  outward  and  visible  did  not  so  much 
secure  his  attention,  as  the  spiritual  and  invisible.  There 
is  no  teacher  hke  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  no  book  like  the 
book  of  God,  the  first  volume  as  well  as  the  second. 

While  the  Savior  was  halted  at  a  short  distance  from 
the  house,  he  turned  to  the  multitude  following,  and  made 
this  faith  the  theme  of  remarks,  very  briefly  reported  by 
the  evangelists;  after  the  manner  of  a  man,  who  has  unwit- 
tmgly  come  across  an  unexpected  treasure.  He  pronounced 
the  convictions  and  expressions  of  the  Gentile  to  be  nearei- 
the  ti-uth  than  anything  that  had  passed  from  human  lips 
heretofore,  among  the  most  highly  favored  in  Israel ;  above 
even  the  testimony  of  John,  the  forerunner,  or  of  the  virgin 
mother.  He  naturally  adverted  to  the  future,  present  to 
his  view,  when  Gentiles  from  all  parts  of  the  world  par- 
takers of  the  faith  of  the  patriarchs,  should  sit  down  with 
them  at  the  heavenly  feast:  while  the  children  of  these 
same  worthies,  lacking  their  faith,  should  be  cast  out. 

He  described  with  feai-ful  words  the  bitter  disappoint- 
ment, and  the  ungovernable  rage  of  those  excluded ;  words 
that  have  a  sound  of  harshness  to  our  ears.  But  the  eyes 
that  wept  over  Jerusalem  were  surveying  the  assembly; 
the  voice,  that  bewailed  with  groans  their  unbelief,  was  in- 
viting them :  and  the  heart  of  inflnite  love  was  yearning- 
over  them :  and  we  are  to  remember  that  God  is  never 
more  kind  than  when  the  most  faithful  warnings  are  being- 
uttered,  and  the  doom  of  incorrigible  unbelief  is  being  de- 
nounced. 

We  know  not  to  what  length  this  address  was  prolonged  : 
it  undoubtedly  emphasized  the  necessity  of  like  faith  to  Jew 


120  SKKTCHKS    FKO.M    THK    LIKE   OF   JESl>. 

as  well  as  (ientile.  While  the  master  contiuued  speaking, 
his  errand  of  healing  unaccomplished :  and  the  hearers  were 
settling  themselves  in  the  posture  of  attention  to  words  so 
solemnly  affecting  every  one  of  them :  the  centurion,  who 
was  in  full  view,  but  not  within  hearing  of  the  voice,  left 
the  house,  and  joined  the  outermost  circle  of  the  audience 
behind  the  speaker,  eager  to  catch  his  woids  of  instruction. 
No  more  intei'ested  listener  was  present.  The  Lord  at  length 
turned  full  upon  him ;  and  the  two  were  face  to  face.  "Go 
thy  way,"  he  said,  'and  as  thou  hast  believed,  so  shall  it 
be  unto  thee:""  and  in  this  manner  shall  all  real  faith  in  me 
be  rewarded;  everything  desired  and  needed  by  it  shall  be 
granted  to  the  uttermost. 

At  his  word,  joy  shall  overflow,  and  the  consolations 
of  the  indwelling  comforter  shall  be  poured  into  the 
wounds  which  sin  has  made,  till  the  soul  is  made  per- 
fectly whole.  There  was  demonstration  of  all  this  before 
the  eyes  of  the  waiting  audience.  Our  Savior  always  spoke 
with  the  closest  application ;  and  the  listeners  understood 
that  the  blessings  of  salvation  were  for  the  Jew  first,  and 
also  for  the  (Jentile:  nnd  that  himself  could  not  be  more 
highly  gratified  and  honoi'ed  than  by  their  peisonal  faith, 
and  their  enjoyment  of  the  highest  good  in  the  power  of 
(iod  to  bestow.  They  wei'e,  however,  to  be  far  from  think- 
ing that  they  had  m  birthright  claim  to  the  mercy  of  God 
as  children  of  Abraham :  or  that  anj'thing  short  of  a  faith 
like  their  great  progenitor's,  could  ava.il  foi-  their  salvation. 
Truths  enforced  by  such  an  object-lesson,  couhl  not  fail  of 
arousing  the  most  indifferent:  nor  could  they  ever  be  for- 
gotten. Nothing  was  ever  forgotten  that  the  Nazarene  had 
s])oken. 

After  the  descisive  words  to  the  centurion  i>rantini>'  his 
I'equest,  the  friends  whom  he  had  dispatched  as  his  mes- 
sengers to  the  master,  left  the  company,  in  oidei-  that  they 
might  ascertain  if  the  young  servant  were  really  relieved 
and  restored.  They  found  him  rejoicing  in  the  return  of 
vigor  and  health.  The  centurion,  however,  was  in  no  haste 
to  learn  the  result:  he  liad  no  doubts  to  settle:  no  uncer- 
tainty that  demanded  the  verification  of  examination.  He 
knew   from  the  power  accompanying:  to   his  own   soul   the 


HISTORirAL   AND    DOOTKINAL.  121 

words  spoken  to  liiuiself,  that  the  patient  was  restored ; 
nor  would  he  manifest  by  his  conduct  the  smallest  lack  of 
conviction.     "He  that  believeth  sliall  not  make  haste." 

The  cure  was  soon  proclaimed  to  the  waiting  crowd :  and 
the  news  was  to  them  all  a  confirmation  of  the  words  of 
warning,  which  the  g-reat  healer  had  delivered.  The  sufferer, 
now  in  the  full  tide  of  health,  became  a  witness;  that  to 
Jesus  all  power  in  earth  and  heaven  is  given,  being  his  by 
native  right.  Perhaps  also  he  became  a  witness  to  his 
power  to  heal  the  maladies  of  the  soul ;  the  first  benefit 
may  have  become  to  him  an  encouragement  to  apply  for 
the  far  greater  deliverance  from  the  disease  of  sin,  which 
more  grievously  torments  the  soul  than  the  direst  disease 
does  the  body. 


122  SKKT<  Hi;s    rH<»M    THK    lAlE   OF   JESUS. 


CHAPTER  XII 


THE  RAISING  OF  JAIRUS'  DAUGHTER, 


of  J  aims  we  knew  nothing,-  except  what  is  recorded  in 
connection  with  this  incident.  He  was  probably  a  bigoted 
formalist,  and  of  very  positive  convictions:  only  such  would 
ever  be  elected  to  the  position  wnich  he  occupied  as  ruler 
of  the  synagojiue.  These  were  usually  the  strictest  of 
their  sect;  and  as  a  class  they  looked  with  little  favor  on 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  We  have  no  reason  to  think  that  he 
would  ever  have  resorted  to  him.  except  as  impelled  by 
an  unavoidable  necessity.  He  had  an  only .  daujihter  of 
twelve  years  of  age,  the  flowei-  of  the  family  and  the  light 
of  the  household.  We  learn  from  Luke  that  she  was  the 
only  child,  hence  the  greater  interest  felt  in  her.  She  had 
been  sick  for  some  time,  it  is  likely  or  perhaps  certain;  and 
no  application  had  been  nmde  to  the  prophet  of  Nazareth; 
while  any  hope  of  recovery  remained.  The  fathei-  was  able 
<loubtless  to  secure  the  best  medical  aid  which  the  city 
afforded;  and  relied  upon  it  without  a  thought  of  seeking 
relief  elsewhere. 

It  was  only  wher?^  the  jihysicians  abandoned  their  ])atient. 
after  having  exhausted  their  skill;  and  informed  the  soi- 
rowing  parents,  that  nothing  more  could  be  done  in  the 
case:  that  they  thought  of  Jesus.  He  was  the  very  last 
resort,  after  all  help  had  failed.  From  day  to  day  they 
had  watched  the  ebb  of  the  y(ning  life;  as  it  maintained  an 
Hver  weakening  contest  with  the  dire  destroyer.  The  shadow 
had  darkened  and  deepened  steadily;  until  death  was  set- 
ting- his  jjale  seal  u])on  the  features,  which  they  loved;  and 
hoi)e  and  happiness  were  about  to  expire  with  her.  As 
long  as  any  possibility  of  recovery  existed,  they  continued 
the  strugule  against  the  enemy;  but  when  nothing  moi»^ 
could  he  done,  and  they  sank  into  utter  lieljilessness  under 


HISTOUilAL    AM>    IKHTHiXAI..  123 

the  impeuding-  blow:  then  and  not  before  they  turned  to 
the  prophet,  who  was  every whei-e  spoken  against.  Tlie  ap- 
pHeation  was  not  the  result  of  loyalty  to  Christ,  or  the 
prompting  of  a  desire  to  honor  him:  it  was  a  last  resort. 
This  treatment  of  the  Savior  is  no  unusual  thing. 

No  one  ever  makes  a  real  approach  to  him.  until  every 
other  recourse  has  failed  :  every  hope  has  been  extinguished: 
every  helper  has  disappointed:  and  that,  on  which  we  have 
leaned,  has  become  a  reed  to  pierce  the  sh(3uldei*  that  rested 
on  it.  In  our  sins,  we  have  a  natural,  instinctive  and  un- 
accountable aversion  to  God's  appointed  Savior,  and  seek 
his  aid  really,  when  he  remains  the  only  one  to  whom  we 
can  turn..  Then  we  hear  for  the  first  time  the  "glad  tid- 
ings:'* we  remember  that  there  is  a  Savior:  and  the  old, 
old  stoiy  salutes  our  enchanted  ears  as  news  from  heaven. 
As  we  muse  on  all  he  said  and  did,  hope  revives:  the  dr\' 
bones  come  together,  bone  to  his  bone;  fiesh  covers  them 
above:  a  gale  of  heavenly  influence  sweei)S  over:  and  the 
heath  of  prayer  issues  from  the  lips  unsealed:  and  we  arise 
to  a  new  life. 

The  determination  once  formed,  he  came  with  speed:  and 
found  the  one  he  sought  just  returning  from  the  other  side 
of  the  lake.  Jesus  was  never  behind  his  time:  but  punc- 
tual to  the  occasion  ever.  He  is  always  ready  to  the  soul 
that  is  needy  and  seeking.  Indeed,  his  errand  now  was  to 
meet  and  find  the  eager  comer;  and  for  that  purpose  he 
had  hurried  across.  The  ruler  of  the  synagogue  was  one 
of  the  first,  yes  the  very  first,  to  meet  him  as  he  step]ied 
ashore:  and  we  see  in  the  meeting  that  his  pride  was 
humbled,  and  his  heart  overcome  and  broken.  We  are  told 
that  "he  fell  at  his  feet,  and  besought  him  greatly"'  with 
all  the  elocjuence  of  agonized  sorrow.  When  a  strongman 
bows  himself,  and  his  tongue  is  loosed  in  supyjlication.  and 
he  falls  on  the  very  ground  in  agony,  he  has  monopolized 
the  attention  of  all  the  bystanders,  and  every  other  voi<'e 
is  hushed. 

So  vivid  is  the  narrative,  and  the  words  so  exactly  re- 
])orted,  that  we  can  almost  behold  the  scene.  "My  little 
daughter  lieth  at  the  point  of  death,  is  even  now  dead: 
V)ut  come  and  lay  thy  hand  upon  her  and  she  shall   live.'' 


124  SKETCHES    FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

( >h  how  eci«;er  he  is  that  Jesus  should  come  at  ouce,  before 
death  takes  her!  How  urj>ei)t;  a  few  minutes'  delay  may 
forfeit  the  opportunity.  Her  life  hangs  upon  a  moment. 
Oh  let  him  hasten,  before  the  flickering  light  goes  out  for- 
ever. He  is  s]jeaking  to  one  who  knows  a  father's  pity  for 
his  child,  and  who  is  himself  moved  with  a  compassion  too 
great  for  a  human  heart  to  hold.  The  prophet  cannot  re- 
sist the  plea,  and  starts  at  once  in  company  towards  the 
house;  and  they  are  followed  by  a  vast  crowd  of  interested 
spectators.  All  depends  u])on  the  celerity  of  their  move- 
ments. Life  or  death  is  in  the  balance.  Women  and  ehil- 
dren  wei-e  alwa\^s  in  every  throng  that  followed  Jesus. 

Before  pj'oceeding  far,  the  leader  stops,  and  with  him  the 
a<icom])anying  throng.  To  Jairus  a  minute's  delaj"  seems 
an  age;  but  Jesus  turns  and  inquires:  'Who  touched 
me?''  All  who  stood  facing  him  denied  one  after  anothei- 
having  intentionally  or  accidentally  touched  him.  "  Who 
touched  my  clothes?''  repeated  he.  The  waiting  consumed 
a  little  time;  and  no  one  confessing,  Peter  said:  "'Master 
the  niultitude  throng  thee  and  press  thee:  and  sayest  thou, 
who  touched  me?"  And  Jesus  replied:  -'Some  one  has 
touched  me:  for  I  perceive  that  virtue  has  gone  out  of 
me."  The  shrinking  woman,  cowei-ing  behind  the  foremost, 
(tould  not  remain  concealed :  foi*  she  discovered  plainly  that 
his  eyes  detected  her;  and  that  he  knew  the  whole  circum- 
stance and  every  item  of  the  case.  The  timidity'  of  her  sex 
and  her  own  native  modesty  would  have  restrained  any 
public  declaration  on  her  pavt :  but  animated  by  a  strange 
joy,  and  a  consciousness  that  her  death-wound  had  been 
healed  at  the  instant  of  her  touch;  with  a  fluttering  heart 
and  an  irie])ressible  gratitude,  like  that  of  the  lame  man 
healed  afterwards  in  the  temple  by  Peter  and  John  who 
walked  and  lea])ed  praising  God,  she  threw  back  hei-  veil, 
and  came  forward  and  fell  at  his  feet. 

She  recited  that  from  early  womanhood  she  had  been 
subject  for  twelve  years  to  a  wasting  consumption,  peculiar 
to  her  sex,  which  no  remedy  had  been  able  to  conquei-; 
that  though  left  with  a  moderate  fortune,  she  had  spent 
all,  and  had  resorted  to  the  most  successful  physicians  in 
vain;   and  though  she  had  submitted  to  the  most  painful 


HISTOItK  AL    ANH    DOCTRINAL.  125 

treatment,  lier  money  and  her  hope  wei-e  all  gone;  and  .she 
was  left  with  no  prospect  but  of  the  grave  waiting-  for  her; 
and  she  felt  herself  speedily  verging-  to  the  end.  In  this 
state  of  poverty  and  despair,  she  had  heard  that  Jesus  was 
present  in  the  neighborhood ;  and  had  determined  to  apply 
to  him,  as  one  who  had  never  failed  in  any  case  however 
aggravated  and  hopeless.  And  she  was  able  to  add  her 
testimony  to  his  power;  for  she  knew  that  she  had  been 
instantly  healed,  and  felt  the  pulses  of  a  new  life  already 
beating'  in  vigor  and  joy.  Though  the  nature  of  her  malady 
was  such  as  was  not  suitable  to  be  publicly  detailed;  that  yet 
her  surprise  and  irrepressible  joy  enabled  her  to  overcome 
her  shame,  and  she  rejoiced  to  declare  her  indebtedness; 
and  was  anxious,  in  any  way  that  he  should  designate,  to 
manifest  her  gratitude.  She  was  not  indebted  to  the  fringe 
of  his  g'arment;  but  to  him  who  had  power  over  disease 
and  death,  and  could  say  to  either,  go. 

Such  was  the  storv  of  the  woman,  to  which  there  was  no 
more  interested  listener  than  the  ruler  of  the  synagogue, 
who  possibly  knew  the  person,  and  recognized  the  pale  and 
haggard  countenance:  though  not  before  apprised  of  the 
nature  of  the  ailment,  which  was  slowly  but  surely  dragging 
her  to  the  tomb.  He  could  not  have  failed  to  be  struck 
with  the  similarity  of  his  own  case  to  hers  in  one  respect; 
that  she  did  not  apply  to  Jesus  except  as  the  last  resort ; 
after  every  helper  had  failed,  and  hope  had  been  utterly 
extinguished.  He  must  have  been  deeply  moved  bj^  hearing- 
the  Master  call  her  "daughter"  in  terms  of  undisguised 
affection;  and  bid  her  "be  of  good  cheer,  and  ^o  in  peace, 
and  be  whole  of  her  plague"  during  her  whole  term  of  life. 
There  was  not  one  word  of  upbraiding-  because  she  had  so 
long  deferred  her  application  ;  and  come  to  him  only  in  hei* 
extremity,  when  there  remained  no  other  helper. 

There  was  instruction  to  Jairus  in  the  emphasis  which 
Jesus  laid  upon  The  vyoman's  faith  when  he  said  :  "Thy  faith 
hath  saved  thee."'  It  was  not  the  fringe  of  the  garment, 
not  the  touch  of  the  hand,  not  any  medium  whatever;  but 
the  all-controlling,  omniscient  power  of  the  mighty  person- 
age him.self.     We  do  not  know  whether  he  had  the  insight 


126  SKETCHES    rj{().\l    THK    \AVK   OF   JESIS. 

to  perceive  that  tlie  toiiih  was  not  essential,  while  the  faith 
was  the  condition  :  lie  nnist  have  snspected  the  truth  at  all 
events. 

Just  at  this  instant,  while  he  was  busy  with  these  com- 
parisons and  reflections,  a  messen<>;er  arrived  from  his  house, 
an«l  said  to  him  aside  in  an  undertone:  "Thy  daughter  is 
even  now  dead :  trouble  not  the  master  furthei-.'"  Jesus 
caufiht  the  words,  though  not  designed  for  his  ears;  and 
turned  full  upon  Jairus.  just  as  the  great  agony  was  con- 
vulsing his  heait.  and  said:  "Fear  not.  believe  only  and 
she  shall  be  made  perfectly  whole."  There  was  such 
command  in  his  tone,  such  tenderness  in  his  words,  and 
such  superhuman  confidence  and  authoiity  in  his  look,  that 
the  pang  of  beieavement  died  away,  arreste<l  in  its  very 
V>irth:  and  he  found  himself  believing.  Jesus  had  spoken 
faith  into  his  soul. 

He  was  no  longer  in  liaste.  '"He  that  believeth  shall  not 
make  haste."  He  was  already  relieved  of  a  mountain  load 
of  sorrow  and  foreboding;  he  was  surrendering  himself  to 
the  guidance  of  the  mysterious  being,  who  w-as  directing 
him  by  the  shepherd-staff  of  his  love;  and  was  beginning 
to  forget  all  else  in  cfjntemplating  the  strange  prophet, 
about  whom  all,  that  he  had  previously  heard  with  so  much 
doubt  and  scorn,  was  yet  ti'ue.  It  began  to  seem  that  the 
government  of  all  things  was  on  his  shoulders:  that  the 
laws  of  nature  centred  iu  his  will;  that  the  subtle  and  in- 
scrutable forces  of  the  universe  were  under  his  command, 
and  took  their  orders  from  his  lips.  Was  this  the  lord  of 
life  and  death  that  was  walking  at  his  side?  New  and 
strange  feelings  and  thoughts  occuped  his  mind:  but  like  the 
restored  bhn<l  man  he  could  say:  ''One  thing  1  know,''  that 
whereas  1  was  almost  dead  with  sorrow,  now  I  am  at  pei-- 
fect  ease:  a  strange  relief  has  come  to  my  distress:  and  I 
am  folhjwing  my  leader.  He  was  aware  that  the  restora- 
tion of  his  child  depended  on  his  own  faith:  and  this  con- 
viction made  him  cling  more  closely'  to  him.  whom  he  now 
felt  to  be  his  own  future  guide  and  savior. 

The  distance  from  the  lake  to  the  house  had  been  con- 
sideral)le;  and  some  little  time  had  been  consumed  in 
] massing.      -Vs  they  ai'Hved,  it  was  evident    that  it  w'as    a 


HISTOKU'Al-    AND    DCXTKINAL.  127 

houH<*  of  iiiouruiug.  The  iiioiirniiiji,'  women  had  taken  ]JO.s- 
session,  and  the  minstrels  whose  pitiful  strains  would  draw- 
tears  from  the  driest  eyes.  Enterino-  Jesus  said :  '*Why 
make  ye  this  ado?  the  maid  is  not  dead  ;  but  sleepeth."  To 
him  it  wa,s  but  sleep.  "But  they  lauj2,hed  him  to  scorn : 
knowing  that  she  was  dead." 

There  is  no  possibility  of  mistake  in  the  case  of  a  child. 
There  may  be  apparent  death,  or  trance,  or  suspended  ani- 
mation in  some  instances :  these  never  occur  in  the  case 
of  children.  One  minute  after  decease,  she  was  just  as 
dead,  as  if  she  had  lain  in  the  grave  four  days  or  four 
years.  When  we  sit  by  the  bedside  of  a  dying  child,  and 
mark  the  steady  progress  of  the  disease;  the  barriers 
which  vitality  interposes  swept  away  one  by  one:  the 
strength  weakening  day  by  day;  the  eyes  losing  their  lustre, 
and  expressing  more  and  more  the  exhaustion  of  the  vital 
powers ;  the  stupor  that  indicates  fatal  congestion  coming 
on  with  even  pace:  the  life  force  ebbing  away  in  an  unchecked 
drain;  we  feel  that  in  the  moment  of  dissolution,  we  are 
separated  from  them  by  that  vast  gulf  which  interposes 
between  the  two  worlds,  the  visiV)le  and  the  invisible. 

There  is  no  mistaking  death:  the  pallid  seal  cannot  be 
counterfeited.  When  they  are  once  gone,  they  are  forever 
gone.  '"There  is  hope  of  a  tree,  if  it  l)e  cut  do\^'n :  that 
the  tender  branch  thereof  shall  not  cease :  but  through  the 
scent  of  water  that  it  will  bud  and  bring  forth  l)oughs 
like  a  plant:  but  man  dieth  and  wasteth  away'"  to  dust. 
If  a  man  die,  shall  he  live  again?  "Till  the  heavens  be  no 
more    they  shall  not  awake    nor  arise  out  of  their  sleep." 

"He  put  them  all  out."  The  scornful  crowd  were  of 
course  excluded :  he  never  gratified  vain  curiosity ;  nor 
suffered  inquisitive  gazeis.  Most  of  liis  dis(nples  even  were 
excluded.  He  took  only  the  favored  three,  with  the  father 
and  mother,  and  entered  the  chamber  of  death,  where 
upon  the  bed   lay   the  little  corpse. 

The  tendei'iiess  of  his  conduct  surpassed  all  description. 
He  had  ever  shown  himself  a  warm  lovei-  of  children. 
They  everywhere  hung  around  him.  We  see  him  twice,  as 
reported  by  the  evangelists,  with  little  children  in  his  arms, 
and  pressed  to  his  bosom.     Indeed  in  all  the  scenes  depict- 


128  SKETCHES    FROM    THE   LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

ed  to  US,  he  never  seems  <>Teater  tliaii  when,  holding-  little 
children  to  his  heart,  he  blessed  them.  The  only  occasion, 
on  which  he  was  much  disyjleased,  was  when  the  disciples 
forbade  the  mothers,  who  were  briuging  their  infants  for 
his  blessing;.  It  is  not  said  that  he  was  much  displeased 
when  insulted,  abused  and  scorned;  bnt  he  nv^.s  displeased, 
when  the  twelve  thought  helpless  infants  unworthy  of  his 
attention.  His  favorite  figure,  by  which  he  oftenest  desig- 
nated his  believing  followers  was  as  "children"  and  '"little 
children. ■■  They  are  the  cream  of  human  society,  its  lova- 
ble ones.  Wherever  he  was.  the  children  flocked  to  him. 
When  he  fed  the  five  thousand  men  in  the  desert  place  be- 
longing to  the  city  of  Bethsaida,  there  was  also  there  a 
large  company'  of  women  and  children.  On  his  last  visit 
to  Jerusalem,  and  after  his  regal  entry,  the  temple  echoed 
to  the  cr^'  of  children  shouting  Hosanna  to  the  sou  of 
David,  regardless  of  the  known  feelings  of  parents  and  su- 
periors. The  simple,  unsophisticated  children  gathered  nat- 
urally around  him,  even  if  the  parents  turned  their  back. 
Some  of  his  mightiest  wondei's  were  wrought  in  behalf  of 
children. 

In  this  case  he  manifested  the  warmth  of  his  interest  in 
the  young  when  he  approached  the  bed.  He  took  the  little 
cold  hand  in  his  own,  and  said  in  low  tones,  "Talitha  cumi :'" 
which  is,  literally,  "little  lamb,  get  up.'"  It  is  the  same 
word  that  is  used  in  the  Old  Testament  when  it  is  said : 
"He  shall  carry  the  lambs  in  his  bosom."  It  was  forbidden 
to  touch  the  dead,  contact  with  whom  defiled ;  but  we  can- 
not  but  be  struck  with  his  habit  of  laying  his  hands  on  all 
who  applied  to  him,  not  only  on  the  little  children,  but 
even  on  the  loathsome  leper,  and  the  defiling  dead. 

We  are  reminded  of  a  speech  of  Topsy,  in  Uncle  Tom's 
Cabin,  to  the  Yankee  abolitionist  girl,  who  professed  great 
love  for  the  negroes:  "You  don't  love  me;  you  won't  touch 
me,  nor  let  me  touch  you.''  Jesus  allowed  his  disciples  to 
kiss  him  and  embrace  him,  and  the  penitent  harlot  to  kiss 
his  feet.  Love  was  the  atmosphere  in  which  he  moved,  and 
all  his  commands  were  comprised  in  one  word,  love.  His 
countenance  beamed  with  love  as  the  sun  does  with  light. 
The  tone  of  his  voice  was    modulated   to  its  music:   and 


HISTORICAL   AM)   DOCTRINAL.  129 

came  with  calm,  .subdiiiiig;  iutlueiice  over  all  who  appi'oached 
him.  It  was  love  that  gave  him  his  power:  and  character- 
ized him  with  a  supreme  and  unapproachable  distinction, 
above  all  that  ever  breathed  the  air  of  earth. 

When  he  speaks,  the  dead  hear.  The  little  maid  opened 
her  eyes  as  one  awaking  from  a  sweet  sleep,  and  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  command  arose,  not  with  the  jiainful  effort  of 
a  feeble  sufferer,  as  she  had  been  moving  for  da3's,  but  with 
the  lightness  and  vigor  of  perfect  health ;  and  walked  about 
the  room  according  to  the  custom  of  her  happiest  times. 
She  was  in  no  humor  of  returning  to  her  couch;  but  was 
up  to  stay,  and  ready  to  engage  in  her  usual  avocations 
of  life,  whatever  they  may  have  been.  At  the  command  of 
Jesus  food  was  brought,  which  she  devoured  with  the  rav- 
enous appetite '  of  robust  childhood :  neither  was  she  dis- 
posed to  submit  to  the  enforced  conftnement  that  follows 
recovery.  In  the  highest  exaltation  of  spirits,  she  was 
ready  for  life. 

The  whole  scene  from  beginning  to  end  was  a  scene  of 
marvels.  The  greatest  wonder  of  all  w'as  the  quiet,  serene 
and  inhnitelj'  gentle  beino-,  whose  word  had  been  proved 
omnipotent.  According  to  the  manner  of  the  evangelists  a 
veil  is  drawn  over  the  ensuing  period  of  surprises,  weeping, 
rejoicing,  and  overwhelming  gratitude,  which  undoubt- 
edly transported  these  parents:  we  are  only  told  that  Jesus 
charged  them  straitl^'  "to  see  that  no  man  know  it,  that 
they  should  tell  no  man  what  was  done.''  This  stern  and 
positive  direction  put  the  climax  on  the  whole  occurrence; 
that  when  their  heai'ts  were  full  to  overflowing,  they  should 
be  forbidden  to  narrate  the  particulai's  to  their  most 
intimate  associates  and  friends.  The  little  maiden  would 
be  a  living  and  silent  witness  to  his  power  and  mercy,  and 
this  was  all  he  wanted;  all  that  the  parents  could  say  could 
add  no  possible  force  to  the  power  of  this  argument.  She 
would  stand  as  long  as  she  lived  a  monument  commem- 
orating the  beneficence  of  the  poor  foot  traveler,  who  had 
not  where  to  lay  his  head  on  earth. 

His    works  were  not  the  wonder;  but  himself,  so  quiet, 
so  unmoved  except  to  mercy,  so  deaf  to  applause,  so  stern 
in  repressing  it,  who  bestowed  his  mercies  for  the  mercies' 
—9 


130  SKETCHES   KKO.M    THE    LIFE   OK   JESUS. 

sake.  The  world  is  full  of  idle  gossip  and  street  and  ueigii- 
borliood  discussions  of  all  social  events;  it  abounds  witli 
em]ity-lieaded  talkers,  whose  mission  in  life  is  like  the  town 
bell  s;  simply  to  noise  abroad  the  clatter  of  every  common 
and  uncommon  event,  exhibiting  a  decided  preference  for 
the  unsavory  and  unpleasant.  Jesus  desired  not  to  be 
taken  upon  the  lips  of  such  discussion.  His  command  to 
the  parents  to  say  nothing  meant  simply,  let  the  thing- 
speak  for  itself.  Conceal  not  the  fact;  let  it  have  its  full 
influence;  but  leave  every  one  to  form  his  own  conclusions: 
and  let  the  simple  truth  produce  its  natural  results.  A 
little  reflection  will  convince  anyone  of  the  superhuman 
wisdom  of  this  direction;  and  exalt  our  estimate  of  the 
strange  teacher,  whose  discernment  is  as  wonderful  as  his 
power  is  unlimited.  There  is  in  this  command  not  a  con- 
tempt for  the  world  and  its  opinions,  but  an  immeasura- 
ble superiority  over  them.  Everything  connected  with  the 
Nazarene  is  in  keeping  with  his  high  pretensions:  and  it 
would  not  seem  strange  if  Jairus  were  again  fallen  at  his 
feet,  in  actual  worship  due  to  God  alone:  at  all  events  here 
in  the  i-uler"s  house  had  been  granted  a  man^'  sided  reve- 
lation sufficient  to  designate  the  central  figure,  as  the  one 
who  was  to  come,  the  hope'  of  Israel  and  of  the  world, 
armed  with  power  to  heal  all  its  maladies  and  relie^'e  its 
sufferings,  the  conquerer  of  death,  and  of  all  the  other  con- 
sequences of  sin. 

AYe  may  easily  credit  what  the  sacred  historian  says: 
"Her  parents  weK;  astonished  with  a  great  astonishment." 
In  the  accounts  in  the  Old  Testament,  the  restoration  of 
the  dead  to  life  is  narrated  as  the  sui^i-eme  effort  of  the 
mightiest  of  the  prophets,  after  long  continued  prayer  and 
agonized  efforts:  but  Jesus  never  prayed  in  order  to  any 
of  his  miracles;,  (at  the  grave  of  Lazarus  there  was  a 
thanksgiving  not  a  prayer:)  he  spoke  and  it  was  done. 
It  was  not  so  much  the  miracle  as  the  manner  of  its  per- 
formance; without  ])reparation,  without  means,  without 
process,  without  fail.  Had  Jehovah  himself  from  the 
shechinah  performed  the  miracle,  it  could  not  have  taken 
])lace  in  any  manner  more  worthy  of  God.  No  more  was 
needed  to  prove  his  messiahship.      The  power  was  resident 


HISTOKICAL  AND  DOCTRINAI..  131 

in  him:  he  did  not  act  apart  from  God.  but  in  such  con- 
cert, that  separation  was  impossible.  Such  convictions 
must  have  forced  themselves  upon  the  favored  household. 
He  was  God.  Matchless  wisdom  was  his,  as  well  as  power 
without  limit,  and  a  kindness  to  which  the  most  loving 
human  soul  is  a  stranger,  united  with  an  amazing  superi- 
oi'ity  to  the  world's  favor  or  frown. 

The  holy  word  is  silent  about  the  results  except  to  in- 
form us,  that  the  fame  of  this  was  spread  abroad  through 
all  tliat  region,  notwithstanding  the  silence  of  the  parties 
who  were  witnesses.  Jesus  still  loves  the  young.  Though 
exalted  to  heaven,  he  is  unchanged  except  in  glory.  The 
simplicity  and  sincerity  of  youth  still  engage  his  fondest 
attachments.  AVe  are  told  by  an  inspired  historian  who 
saw  with  his  own  eyes,  that  a  young  man  who  could  not 
yield  to  the  strict  requirements  made  of  him,  he  "looked 
upon  and  loved"  nevertheless.  He  loves  men  in  their  sins. 
His  loving  eye  melted  Peter  in  the  midst  of  his  denial;  he 
loved  his  enemies  even  when  they  were  enemies,  and  prayed 
for  his  murderers  in  the  very  height  of  their  cruelty  to 
him,  with  a  prayer  that  was  answered  on  the  day  of  Pen- 
tecost. 

Everyone  ought  to  love  Jesus;  but  if  any  do  not,  he 
still  loves  them  without  reference  to  their  past  or  present 
attitude.  If  this  love  had  not  been  in  his  heart  a  consum- 
ing fire,  that  waters  of  sin  could  not  quench,  nor  floods  of 
ingratitude  and  opposition  drown,  he  had  never  come  as 
the  Savior  of  the  world.  His  love  was  stronger  than 
death  and  more  cruel  than  the  grave;  else  he  had  not 
endured  the  cross  for  our  redemption.  In  your  sin  remem- 
ber that  Jesus  weeps  and  loves  you  still.  Children  have 
their  names  engraved  on  the  hearts  of  parents.  They 
stand  engraved  more  deeply  on  the  heart  of  Jesus  Christ. 
"I  love  them,  that  love  me  and  they  that  seek  me  early 
shall  find  me." 

Another  thing  is  clear  from  this  history,  that  Christ  pri- 
zes the  silent  evidence  afforded  by  the  lives  of  his  followers 
above  the  noisy  demonstration  of  words.  It  is  the  bounden 
duty  of  his  people  openly  to  testify  of  his  goodness  and 
mercy,  and  to  declare  his  wonderful  works :  but  the  power 


132         SKETCHES  FROM   THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

of  our  testimony  is  from  what  is  visible  in  the  hfe,  rather 
than  from  the  utterances  of  the  lips.  Let  men  so  live  as 
to  show  the  reality  of  their  religion,  and  its  dominion  over 
their  whole  being-;  and  they  will  better  glorify  the  Master 
whom  they  serve,  than  they  can  in  any  other  way. 


^ 
%, 


HISTOKKAL   AND   DOCTKIXAL.  133 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


THE  FIRST  OUTBREAK  OF  MURDEROUS  ENMITY, 


Tlie  rulers  of  the  Jewisli  people  seem  first  to  have  at- 
tempted to  induce  Jesus  to  conduct  his  ministry  under  their 
supervision  and  direction.  This  is  to  be  inferred  from  John 
II:  4.  Proposals  were  probably  made  to  him,  to  which  he 
did  not  at  all  assent,  to  subject  his  operations  to  their 
counsel  and  suggestions ;  in  the  language  of  the  evangelist, 
"to  commit  himself  unto  them."  Nicodemus,  in  his  inter- 
view, intimated  :  that  the  rulers  were  disposed  to  look  upon 
him  as  a  prophet  sent  of  God,  convinced  by  the  sight  of 
his  miracles.  Our  Lord's  refusal  of  subjection  to  their  dic- 
tation, naturally  led  them  to  take  a  most  I'igid  oversight 
of  all  his  movements,  determined  to  withold  their  approval, 
unless  he  punctiliously  adhered  to  the  minutiae  of  their  tra- 
ditions, which  it  was  the  business  of  their  body  to  enforce. 
A  mere  prophet  could  not  condescend  in  his  high  calling  to 
be  directed  by  human  advice:  much  less  he.  whose  claims 
were  above  those  of  prophets.  His  proceedings,  in  his  first 
great  work  of  purifying  the  temple  from  the  pollutions  of 
the  traffic,  which  Annas  had  authorized,  had  not  been  ap- 
proved. His  attack  upon  usages,  established  and  supported 
by  the  authority  of  the  high  priest  himself,  had  made  that 
functionary,  with  his  large  connection  of  relatives,  hostile 
at  the  very  outset.  To  assail  and  cut  off  the  perquisites 
of  an  office,  is  generally  an  unpardonable  offence.  The  greed 
of  gain  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  enmity,  which  the  high 
priest  conceived  against  the  new  teacher  at  the  commence- 
ment of  his  career. 

Failing  in  their  attempt  to  secure  the  direction  of  our 
Lord  *s  ministry,  the  religious  leaders  determined  thoroughly 
to  intimidate  him,  on  his  first  deviation  from  the  observ- 
ance of  the  traditions  of  the  elders,  which  possessed,  as  they 


184  SKKTCHES   FROM   THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

openly  avowed,  equal  authority  with  the  law  of  God :  and 
they  were  not  men  to  Hiueli  fi'om  enforcing-  their  convic- 
tions. 

The  r.iord  was  not  slow  in  affording  them  an  opportunity. 
The  5th  chai:)ter  of  John  relates  his  attendance  at  Jerusa- 
lem at  an  unnamed  feast,  probably  the  Feast  of  Purim, 
which  occurred  a  short  time  before  the  passover ;  on  purj^ose 
to  afford  them  this  desired  occasion.  He  was  unattended 
except  by  John,  the  narrator  of  the  collision.  His  journey 
to  the  city  was  rapid,  his  stay  short,  and  his  return  im- 
mediate. His  object  was  to  exhibit  and  enforce  his  high 
claims  of  Sonship  to  the  Almighty  Jehovah. 

On  the  Sabbath  day  he  visited  the  pool  of  Bethesda,  in 
whose  porches  were  congregated  a  great  multitude  of  im- 
potent folk,  waiting  for  the  moving  of  the  water,  which 
an  angel  at  certain  seasons  troubled.  Transcribers  have, 
from  the  earliest  times,  endeavored  to  eliminate  the  angel 
from  the  account:  which  they  caimot  do  without  destroy- 
ing the  history  itself. 

Nature  in  her  different  departments  exhibited  signs  of  the 
presence  of  the  pronnsed  seed,  as  the  sky  showed  the 
prophetic  star.  Old  Bethesda  likewise  felt  a  miracle  in  its 
waters,  dating  back  possibly  to  the  time  of  the  birth.  As 
our  Lord  walked  through  the  porches,  he  selected  as  the 
object  of  his  aid  an  old  man,  as  being  the  most  helpless, 
hopeless  and  unworthy  of  the  sufferers;  for  his  condition 
appears  to  have  been  the  result  of  vice.  He  was  already 
the  prey  of  despair.  Standing  before  him  in  such  a  way 
as  to  attract  his  undivided  attention,  our  Lord  accosted 
him  with  the  question,  which  from  any  other  lips  would 
have  been  a  mockerv:  "Wilt  thou  be  made  whole?''  But 
in  the  (piestioner  there  appeared  a  sympathy,  which  forbade 
all  sus])icion  of  .trifling.  The  poor  man  went  on  at  length 
to  state  his  weakness;  and  that  he  was  perishing  in  full 
view  of  the  remedy,  for  want  of  a  helper  to  assist  him  into 
the  water;  evidently  hoping  to  secure  hel])  from  the  com- 
passionate stranger. 

But  to  his  astonishment,  .lesus,  ti-ansformed  for  a  mo- 
ment, l)y  a  tiash  of  divine  grace  aiid  power  glowing  through 
the  mask  of  his  humanity,  revealing  his  conscious  suprem- 


HISTORICAL   AND    DOCTRINAL.  135 

acy  over  the  ])0\vers  of  evil,  said  with  an  authority  more 
than  mortal:  ''Rise,  take  up  thy  bed,  and  walk."  The 
magnetism  of  the  look,  the  power  in  the  words  were  such, 
that  the  impotent  sufferer  could  but  obey.  He  arose,  took 
up  the  ruo-  or  oriental  mat,  on  which 'he  lay,  and  walked 
away,  restored  to  the  full  vigor  of  his  youth.  In  this  there 
was  not  the  shghtest  breach  of  the  Sabbath ;  but  it  was  a 
violation  of  their  traditions.  These  forbade  the  wearing  on 
the  Sabbath  day  of  a  sandal  with  a  double  sole,  as  it  was 
the  bearing  of  a  burdeA.  Such  absurd  regulations  had  in 
their  view  an  authority  equal  to  that  of  the  divine  law: 
Jesus  was  contending  for  liberty  and  right  against  the 
tyranny  of  an  odious  superstition. 

Before  the  crowd  assembled,  which  was  sure  to  gather 
when  the  cure  once  became  known,  our  Lord  quietly  slipped 
away.  Had  he  commanded  the  Sabbath  to  be  really  broken, 
as  the  priests  in  the  temple  were  required  to  break  it  by 
servile  work  on  every  returning  holy  day,  he,  as  its  insti- 
tutor  and  Lord,  had  the  right.  Had  not  Israel  been  com- 
manded to  coujpass  Jericho  seven  times  on  the  seventh 
day?  It  was  not  the  ^iolation  of  the  day  that  angered 
the  religious  leaders;  it  was  the  notable  miracle  that  dis- 
pleased them;  as  it  demonstrated  that  the  Son  of  Man 
was  lord  also  of  the  Sabbath  day.  In  the  past  history  of 
the  nation,  miracles  had  been  wrought  on  the  holy  day; 
certainly  the  falling  of  the  walls  of  Jericho.  The  opposi- 
tion of  these  enemies  was  as  rancorous,  when  healings  were 
effected  by  the  laying  on  of  hands  simply,  or  by  a  spoken 
word.    The  miracles  angered  them. 

They  were  hard  pushed  for  a  charge  against  the  Nazar- 
ene,  when  after  diligent  search,  they  could  truui])  up  noth- 
ing more  plausible  than  this.  The  ring  of  malice  is  in 
their  question  to  the  man,  ''who  is  he  that  commanded 
thee  to  take  up  thy  bed?''  and  not,  who  is  he,  that  made 
thee  whole  by  a  word?  At  first  we  are  aggrieved  to  learn 
how  ready  he  was  to  inform  against  his  benefactor;  until 
we  remember  that  Jesus  wished  the  necessary  conflict  to 
be  inaugurated  at  once.  He  came  to  send  fire  on  the  earth; 
and  "what  will  I  if  it  be  already  kindled?" 


136  SKETCHES  FROM  THf:   LIFE  OF  JESVS. 

It  is  evident  that  our  Lord's  defense  recorded  in  this  oh. 
V.  John,  was  made  before  the  Sanhedrin,  the  bodj'  which  had 
sent  the  messengers  to  inquire  of  John  the  Baptist  the  mean- 
in"-  of  his  mission.  Not  tliat  our  Lord  was  arrested  ;  or  that 
hands  were  hiid  on  him  :  or  that  he  was  held  in  custody : 
but  that  he  was  summoned  bv  the  proper  officers  throu^'h 
a  process  of  law,  to  appear  before  the  council  at  a  set  time, 
and  answer  to  the  charge  of  Sabbath  breaking-.  Of  course 
he  was  willingly  obedient  to  the  summons. 

Appealing  l)efoi-e  thac  august  body,  he  offered  his  first 
defense  in  a  single  sentence ;  but  these  few  words  stung  the 
hearers  to  madness.  "M3'  Father  worketh  hitherto,  and  I 
work'"  on  the  Sabbath.  God  on  the  holy  day  upholds  all 
things;  maintains  the  orderly  progress  of  the  universe  as 
on  otiier  days.  He  makes  the  sun  to  rise,  the  earth  to  re- 
volve, the  rivers  to  flow,  the  grass  and  herbs  to  grow,  and 
all  the  machinery  of  nature  to  run  as  usual.  On  the  Sab- 
bath, the  angel  stirs  the  waters  of  Bethesda,  for  which 
troubling  the  multitude  of  impotent  folk  were  waiting  on 
the  day  in  question ;  and  God  heals  and  restores  him  who 
steps  into  the  waters,  just  as  on  other  da^^s  of  the  week : 
"and  I  work."  In  one  breath  he  puts  himself  into  a  full 
equality  with  the  Father,  being  his  son  in  a  sense  not  true 
of  man  or  angel :  makes  the  eternal  Father  his  only  asso- 
ciate and  equal;  and  claims  all  that  is  conceded  to  the 
everlasting  Father  as  his  due. 

An  ordinary  transgressor  of  the  Sabbath  law,  they  would 
never  have  ])unisk3d  with  death ;  however  severely  they 
might  have  dealt  with  him :  that  they  should  be  bent  on 
putting  Jesus  to  death  for  such  an  offence,  is  unaccount- 
able. About  their  hatred  of  him  there  rests  an  inexplica- 
ble mystery.  But  now  the  charge  of  violating  the  Sabbath 
became  secondary:  their  indictment  was  amended,  and  a 
new  count  added,  for  which  "'they  sought  the  more  to  put 
him  to  death,"  namely  for  his  astounding  pretensions; 
whi<-h  he  justified  in  a  S))eech  surpassing,  in  lofty  sublimity, 
and  ii-resistible  force,  anything  that  ever  fell  from  human 
lips.  It  stunned  and  paralyzed  the  listening  senate,  with 
an  astonishment  such,  that  they  feared  to  lay  hands  upon 
him;   howpvei-  much  tliev  hated  him. 


HISTORICAL    AND    DOCTRINAL.  137 

Undeniable  truth  invested  him  as  a  robe,  like  the  un- 
created light  around  the  throne  of  (iod.  Everything  con- 
nected with  him,  his  pure  and  spotless  life,  his  untainted 
soul,  his  mig-hty  works,  his  divine  wisdom,  his  unaffected 
majesty  of  mien  all  agreed  with  his  high  pretensions:  and 
confirmed  them.  This  first  collision  with  him  made  them 
his  everlasting  enemies.  It  were  easier  to  turn  the  sun 
from  its  course  than  him.  His  position  was  unmistakable; 
and  to  contend  against  it  was  to  fight  against  the  obvious 
facts  of  the  case.  Instead  of  yielding  assent,  they  felt  their 
purpose  strengthened  to  put  him  to  death;  a  purpose  in 
which  they  faltered  not  until  they  had  him  safe  in  the 
tomb  of  Joseph. 

The  offensive  points  in  this  defense  regarded  his  own  per- 
son. He  associated  himself  with  the  Father  as  his  only 
companion  and  equal.  "He  was  with  God.'"  "Whatever 
things  the  Father  doeth  these  also  doeth  the  son  likewise.'" 
The  union  of  the  Father  and  the  son  is  a  love  union;  they 
are  united  by  an  affection  necessary  to  tlieii-  nature  above 
the  experience  and  conception  of  creatures.  The  father  will 
show  him  greater  things  than  these  miracles  of  healing;  "for 
as  the  father  raiseth  up  the  dead,  and  quickeneth  them, 
even  so  the  son  quickeneth  whom  he  will."  There  is  one 
thing  that  the  father  had  committed  wholly  to  the  son, 
the  judgment  of  men,  "because  he  is  a  son  of  man;  that 
all  men  should  honor  the  son  even  as  they  honor  the  father; 
he  that  honoreth  not  the  son  honoreth  not  the  father, 
which  hath  sent  him.""  After  interjecting  an  announcement 
of  the  gospel  condition  of  salvation,  for  the  benefit  of  his 
would  be  murderers,  he  resumes  his  own  vindication.  "Veril}', 
verily  I  say  unto  you  the  hour  is  coming  and  now  is;  when 
the  dead  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  son  of  man,  and  tliey 
that  hear  shall  live."'  The  raising  of  the  young  man  of 
Nain  to  life,  and  also  of  the  daughter  of  Jairus  soon  after, 
were  the  fulfilment  of  this  statement.  God  is  the  fountain 
of  life;  and  hath  given  to  the  son  in  his  humiliation  to  be 
also  himself  a  similar  fountain   of  life. 

"Marvel  not  at  this."'  the  restoring  to  life  of  a  few;  "for 
the  hour  is  coming  when  all  that  are  in  their  graves  shall 
hear  his  voice,  and  shall  come  forth;  tliev  that  have  done 


138  SKETCHES  FROM   THE    LIFE  OF    JESUS. 

good,  to  the  resurrection  of  life:  and  they  that  have  done 
evil,  to  the  resurrection  of  damnation."  Life  is  in  the 
Son's  approval:  damnation  is  in  his  frown.  He  goes  on  to 
emphasize  his  subordination  to  the  Father:  but  not  his 
inferiority.  "I  can  of  mine  own  self  do  nothing."  He  can- 
not act  separately  from  the  Father;  the  two  act  alwaj^s 
in  concert ;  as  our  two  eyes  are  one  organ ;  and  neither 
independent  of  the  other.  His  testimom^  is  true,  because 
he  seeks  not  his  own  will;  but  the  will  of  the  Father  who 
has  sent  him.  He  that  bears  witness  of  himself  is  not  a 
true  messenger;  another  bears  witness  of  Jesus,  whose  tes- 
timony is  eternal  truth;  not  John;  for  our  Lord  ''does  not 
receive  testimony  from  man." 

No  man  or  angel  is  old  enough  or  competent  to  testify 
to  him.  who  is  the  Father  of  eternity.  He  stoops  in^i meas- 
urably to  receive  the  attestation  of  men  or  angels.  There 
is  one  and  one  only,  who  can  really  bear  witness  respecting 
him;  the  Father  himself.  But  out  of  burning  love  to  their 
souls,  he  (rites  them  to  John,  whose  testimony  he  admits 
under  protest  as  it  were.  How  must  the  Sanhedrin  have 
been  startled  at  such  words!  An  earthquake  must  have 
shaken  their  souls.  Who  is  this  who  cannot  stoop  to  re- 
ceive the  testimony  of  prophets  or  of  angels?  who  will 
allow  no  witness  as  sufficient  to  the  dread  occasion,  lower 
than  the  eternal  Father  himself?  The  wildest  gleam  of  in- 
sanity never  framed  words  or  thoughts  as  wild;  but  thej 
were  calmly  uttered  in  the  ears  of  the  Jewish  council  bj' 
the  only  sinless  b<^'ng  that  ever  stood  on  this  earth,  all 
whose  belongings  affirmed  his  words,  and  sanctioned  his 
ilaims  in  full. 

How  is  the  testimony  of  the  Father  expressed?  Our 
Savior  represents  it  as  given  in  three  ways:  By  the  works 
given  him  to  do:,  by  the  audible  voice  at  his  baptism:  and 
by  the  Scriptures.  And  first  by  the  works.  How  modestly 
he  speaks  of  them ;  not  calling  them  mighty  works  or  won- 
ders as  men  speak  of  them.  They  are  simply  the  works 
which  the  Father  had  given  him  to  do.  While  they 
astounded  the  world,  they  were  to  him  no  more  than  the 
common  o])erations  of  nature.  A  miracle  is  the  touch  of 
omni))otence  upon  the  laws  of   nature,  controlling   them. 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL,  139 

and  changing  their  operation  for  a  time ;  and  is  the  signa- 
ture of  God  hiniseh"  to  the  credentials  of  a  prophet,  desig- 
nating him  by  divine  authority.  This  method  of  verifica- 
tion is  of  God's  own  ordaining. 

Jesus  was  thus  shown  to  be  "a  teacher  come  from  God." 
His  works  were  all  works  of  aid  to  suffering  humanity; 
restorations  from  the  effects  of  sin ;  healing  the  wounds 
which  sin  has  made.  Works  of  any  other  kind  he  persist- 
ently declined  to  perform.  If  in  answer  to  their  oft  repeated 
demands,  he  had  shown  them  a  sign  from  heaven;  and 
had  wrought  wonders  calculated  to  encourage  the  worldly 
aspirations  of  the  people,  he  could  have  secured  his  own 
unanimous  reception  by  the  truly  oppressed  nation,  in  the 
certain  hope  of  temporal  deliverance  from  the  Roman 
power.  They  Avould,  if  possible,  have  taken  him  by  force, 
and  made  him  a  king;  and  precipitated  their  dire  conflict 
with  Rome;  but  in  his  wiser  method,  they  were  left  to  form 
their  judgment  of  him,  without  the  expectation  of  immedi- 
ate w^orldly  benefit ;  receiving  or  rejecting  him  solely  on  his 
merits. 

With  far  less  evidence  from  attendant  miracles,  the  nation 
had  received  and  acknowledged  the  ancient  prophets:  the 
works  of  Jesus  had  eclipsed  all  in  their  past  history;  "it 
had  never  been  so  seen  in  Israel."  While  they  were  multi- 
plied beyond  numbering;  they  were  wrought  in  a  manner 
proving  much  more,  than  that  .Jesus  was  "a  teacher  come 
from  God."  It  was  not  so  much  the  works,  as  the  won- 
derful being  who  effected  them.  The  mighty  power  that 
accomplished  them  resided  in  him  :  of  the  wonderful  wisdom 
shining  through  his  teachings,  himself  was  the  wonderful 
fountain.  While  the  miracles  of  Moses  and  Elijah  proved 
them  to  be  heaven-sent  messengers;  those  of  Jesus  demon- 
strated him  to  be  the  Son  of  God.  All  the  powers  of  nature 
centered  in  him,  and  took  orders  from  him  ;  the  world  of 
the  living,  as  well  as  death  and  the  grave,  were  subject  to 
him ;  no  effort  was  needed  for  him  to  walk  the  sea  or  as- 
cend the  sky;  miracles  cost  him  but  the  breath  that  com- 
nmnded  them.    All  attested  his  divinitv.     He  knew  how  to 


140  SKETCHES   FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

temper  his  operations  in  such  wisdom;  as  did  not  arouse 
their  fanaticism ;  and  did  not  attract  them  by  the  hope  of 
worldly  deliverance. 

He  refers  next  to  the  Father's  testimony  by  the  audible 
voice  at  the  Jordan.  He  says:  "Ye  have  neither  heard  his 
voice  at  any  time,  nor  seen  his  shape:"'  implyincr  possibly 
that  there  were  those,  who  had  heard  the  voice,  and  seen 
the  descending  shape.  No  more  convincing  attestation  can 
be  imagined  than  the  voice  from  heaven,  declaring  in  dis- 
tinct utterance:  "Thou  art  m^'  beloved  son:  in  thee  I  am 
well  pleased."  This  voice  had  never  been  heard  since  the 
teri'ible  day,  when  from  the  summit  of  Sinai  it  shook  the 
earth.  No  other  occasion  had  since  offered  of  sufficient  im- 
poi'tance  to  justifj^  the  calling  of  the  great  Jehovah  from 
the  heights  of  infinite  glory.  Now  it  announced  a  truth 
surpassing  in  magnitude  and  weight  all  truth  beside. 
Heaven  has  often  sent  communications  by  messengers  duly 
authorized  :  this  case  demanded  words  from  God  himself: 
not  that  Jesus  needed  this  encouragement:  "This  voice  came 
not  because  of  me;  but  for  your  sakes."  Not  only  the 
voice:  but  the  beam  of  heavenly  light,  and  the  mysterious 
dove;  signifying  that  he  is  the  one,  who  shall  baptize  with 
the  Holy  Ghost  and  fire.  Fire  is  a  cruel  ordeal :  but  it 
separates  the  dross:  it  is  the  great  purifier.  "It  sliall  try 
every  man's  work  of  what  sort  it  is."  It  shall  consume 
the  wood,  hay,  and  stubble,  and  leave  the  indestructible  as 
gold  tried  in  the  fire. 

The  third  form,  ii;  which  the  testimony  of  the  Father  is 
communicated,  is  through  the  Holy  Scriptures.  These  Old 
Testament  scriptures  contain  a  perfect  delineation  of  the 
conjing  one;  of  the  time  and  place  of  his  nativity:  of  his 
family  descent:  of  the  appearance  which  he  shall  make  to 
the  eyes  of  men :  of  the  ministry,  which  he  shall  accom- 
l)lish;  the  woi-ks  which  he  shall  perform;  of  the  treatment 
which  he  shall  receive  at  the  hands  of  his  own  people;  and 
of  the  siiffei-ings  which  he  shall  undergo.  All  is  written  as 
with  a  sunbeam.  The  clearest  photograph,  from  the  hand 
of  the  artist,  is  not  a  more  distinct  description  of  the  sub- 
ject; than  i.s  tln^  ])roi>hetical  picture  of  the  coming  Savior, 
a  veritable  delineation  of  .Tesus  of  Nazareth. 


HISTORICAL  AND   DOCTUINAL.  14:1 

AVlieii  it  is  remembered  how  readily  and  loviiio-ly  God 
affords  his  aid  to  tlie  bewildered  nnderstandiuft',  on  the 
first  breathing  of  desire  for  his  guiclauce;  the  mistake  of 
the  Jews  appears  wonderfully  criminal.  The  Ethiopian 
Eunuch  shall  be  delivered  from  his  doubts  into  the  noon- 
day light ;  if  a  miracle  is  demanded  to  accomplish  the  con- 
version. ''Search  the  scriptures''  as  the  miner  searches  the 
gold-bearing  sands  for  the  precious  metal;  or  follows 
the  lead  upon  the  surface  of  the  ground,  into  the  very 
bowels  of  the  earth  in  pursuit  of  it.  The  thought  that  the 
human  mind  is  susceptible  of  such  dire  mistake,  about  a 
matter  of  so  vital  importance,  is  not  pleasant;  but  such 
eri-ors  are  possible  about  one  subject  only;  the  subject  of 
religion . 

Jesus  was  no  impostor.  No  man  could  sustain  for  a 
single  hour  the  I'ole  of  such  an  imposture.  The  first  utter- 
ance of  a  claim  to  divinity  would  stamp  its  authoi-  as 
hopelessly  insane.  To  be  the  Son  of  God  is  to  be  abso- 
lutely sinless,  and  incapable  of  sin;  it  is  to  be  endued 
with*^ absolute  perfection;  to  be  possessed  of  the  uncreated 
attributes.  No  mere  man  can  advance  such  claims;  be- 
cause the  assumed  character  could  not  be  supported  for  a 
moment.  The  most  extravagant  lunatic  never  conceived 
an  idea  so  wild.  Had  he  spoken  it;  he  would  by  the 
word  have  been  placed  below  contempt. 

But  in  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  everything  agreed  with  the 
high  preteusiou,  and  confirmed  it.  The  sun  has  spots ;  but 
he  was  a  sun  without  a  spot:  every  diamond  has  its  fiaw; 
he  was  a  gem  without  a  fiaw.  His  countenance  was  lumin- 
ous with  wisdom;  his  eyes  shone  with  purity;  the  infinite 
and  eternal  love  dwelt  in  him  as  in  its  earthly  tabernacle. 
When  he  stood  before  Pilate,  oppressed  with  nameless  in- 
sult, and  declai-ed  "I  am  a  King;''  the  Roman  felt  any- 
thing but  contempt  for  him;  for  in  him,  he  beheld  a 
majesty  more  imperial  than  Caesar's ;  a  purity,  whose  eyes 
could  not  be  downcast  by  insult  and  scorn;  a  kindness 
that  could  not  be  angered.  He  did  not  profess  to  be  the 
Son  of  God;  he  was  the  Son  of  God.  His  humanity  was 
but  the  ground  glass  globe,  enclosing  and  mellowing  the 
inward  light  of  the  divinity.     And  though  humiliated  to 


142  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

the  lowest  jjoverty,  and  lejected  with  all  the  venomous 
rancor  of  sin,  and  set  at  nought,  and  crucified  and  slain: 
his  o'lory  could  not  be  dimmed  or  tarnished. 

What  was  the  effect  of  this  defense  upon  the  council?  The 
assembly  were  lost  in  amazement  at  the  lofty  tone  of  the 
speaker;  and  completely  dumbfounded  before  him.  A  w^ave 
of  surprise  struck  the  senate,  before  which  it  was  for  a 
time  impossible  to  move.  Astonishment  prevented  action. 
One  thing-  was  evident  to  them,  it  was  impossible  to  deal 
with  the  Nazarene  except  upon  his  own  terms.  No  restraint 
or  compromise  was  practicable.  His  defense  was  his  crime: 
and  their  purpose  was  confirmed  to  show  him  that  he 
should  die  like  a  man;  that  their  disproval  of  his  claims 
should  be  by  his  death  as  a  criminal. 

Thus  they  sat  disarmed  for  a  time  by  blank  anmze- 
ment;  while  their  prisoner  coolly  departed,  uncondemned;  but 
having  accomplished  his  purpose  of  bringing  before  the 
magnates  of  his  nation,  the  great  fact;  that  the  crisis  of 
the  world's  destiny  had  rolled  in,  and  the  promised  seed, 
"the  desire  of  all  nations''  had  appeared.  The  fact  that 
his  enemies  did  not,  at  his  examination  before  Caiaphas, 
bring  against  him  the  charge  of  violating  the  Sabbath,  is 
proof;  that  they  themselves  felt  that  it  did  not  lie. 

From  this  time  forth  the  history  informs  us  that  when- 
evei"  at  Jerusalem,  he  expressed  his  consciousness  of  full 
equality  with  the  Father,  there  was  at  once  an  incipient 
tumult.  The  evangelist  John  relates  the  origin  and  the 
steady  growth  of  ^he  nation's  dislike,  and  hatred  of  the 
Nazarene;  narrating  only  those  miracles  which  became 
stumbling  stones  to  the  people,  aggravating  more  and 
more  their  opposition.  Often  we  read:  "they  would  have 
laid  hands  on  him,"  "no  man  laid  hands  upon  him,  because," 
"some  would  have  laid  hands  on  him,"  and  at  another  time 
"they  understood  not,  that  he  spoke  to  them  of  the 
Father''  as  an  explanation  of  the  lack  of  tumult.  The  crowd 
evidently  surged  upon  him  often  to  use  violence  upon  his 
person;  but  under  the  protection  of  heaven,  his  life  was  in- 
violable until  his  hour  had  come.  The  rage  of  his  enemies 
Qiew  with  time;  till  at  the  last  not  a  voice  was  raised 
agaiut  the  greatest  outrage  ever  perpetrated  on  this  earth. 


HISTORICAL   AND  DOCTRINAL.  143 


CHAPTr:R  XIV. 


THE  CURE  OF  THE  PARALYTIC  IN  CAPERNAUM. 


The  evangelists  inform  us  that  most  of  tlie  mighty  works 
of  Jesus  were  wrought  in  Capernaum,  Chorazin  and  Beth- 
saida;  in  the  former  city  principally,  which  was  for  a  con- 
siderable period  the  home  and  headquarters,  to  which  he 
returned  from  the  preaching  tours  which  he  made  through 
Galilee.  Here  assembled  from  diffei-ent  points  the  sick  and 
afflicted,  awaiting  his  return  from  the  excursions  referred  to. 
And  among  the  citizens  of  this  place  many  of  his  most  glori- 
ous miracles  occurred,  though  five  only  are  recounted  with 
particularity  of  detail,  viz :  The  raising  of  the  little  daugh- 
ter of  Jairus  from  the  dead :  the  iicaling  of  the  centurion's 
servant,  notable  for  the  kind  predictions  of  favor  to  the 
Gentiles  by  which  it  was  accompanied;  the  raising  up  of 
Peter's  wife's  mother  from  the  bed  of  sickness,  where  she 
lay  prostrated  by  a  "great"  i.  e.  fatal  fever,  as  Luke,  the 
physician,  relates ;  the  restoration  in  the  synagogue  of  the 
man  possessed,  being  the  first  instance  of  his  resistless  con- 
trol over  spirits  from  the  other  world ;  and  the  cure  of  the 
paralytic,  the  theme  of  the  present  consideration.  These  were 
only  a  small  fraction  of  the  works  effected  in  these  places, 
which  may  have  been  nearly  contiguous,  along  the  slopes 
of  the  northwestern  shores  of  the  sea  of  Galilee ;  and  in  such 
close  proximity  as  to  form  an  almost  continuous  popula- 
tion, skirting  the  lake  upon  its  northern  limit. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  he  was  rejected  first  in  the 
places  where  most  of  his  mighty  works  had  been  effected. 
The  cure  of  the  paralytic  in  Capernaum  merits  special  con- 
sideration; because  of  its  vital  importance,  which  led  each 
of  the  synoptists  to  include  it  in  his  narrative.  The  peo- 
ple had  at  this  time  seen  enough  of  his  miracles  to  under- 
stand, that  diseases    of   all   kinds    and    devils   obeyed  his 


144  SKETCHES  Flam   THE   EIFE   OF  JESUS. 

word;  and  conseciueiitly  he  was  followed  by  crowds  pass- 
ing enumeration.  A  farther  and  more  startling  revelation 
was  to  be  made  on  the  present  occasion.  He  had  unex- 
pectedly returned  to  Capernaum ;  and  it  was  noised,  that 
he  was  in  the  house  where  he  usually  tarried,  probably 
Peter's.  A  large  company  of  eminent  Pharisees  and  doc- 
tors of  the  law,  who  had  been  waiting  for  such  an  oppor- 
tunity. (;ame  together  at  once,  and  were  seated  in  the  places 
of  honor  within  the  house,  and  in  the  interior  porches,  the 
houses  being  built  around  a  yard,  upon  which  opened 
all  the  doors  and  windows  of  the  building,  and  having  in- 
terior porches  surrounding  the  j^ard.  On  one  of  these 
porches  our  Lord  was  sitting,  when  this  history  begins. 
in  his  wonted  occupation  of  sjjeaking  to  those  so  suddenly 
collected. 

Though  the  subject  of  his  address  is  not  mentioned,  it  is 
easy  to  divine,  that  it  was  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  the  ne- 
cessity, and  the  greatness  of  the  blessing  which  God  alone 
can  bestow.  Every  spot  within,  that  afforded  sitting  or 
standing  room  \\  as  occupied  by  the  continually  increasing- 
crowd,  until  the  door  itself  could  not  be  approached  by 
the  most  energetic  shouldering.  The  multitudes  that  fol- 
lowed Jesus,  or  instantly  assembled  wherever  he  taught, 
surpassed  all  gatherings  that  had  ever  been  known  for  the 
number  of  persons,  and  for  the  unyielding  compactness 
with  Avhich  they  were  wedged  about  him.  No  one  would 
surrender  his  place  to  another ;  and  not  even  the  entreaties 
of  the  mother  of  Jesus  on  one  occasion  could  open  a  pass- 
age through  the  m&ss;  and  they  were  sometimes  so  tighth' 
packed  that  it  was  possible  for  a  man  to  walk  upon  the 
sea  of  heads  as  upon  a  solid  floor. 

.Not  only  did  curiosity  to  see  the  mighty  miracle  worker 
attract,  but  the  hearts  of  the  people  were  being  stirred  by  na- 
tional hopes  and  ambitions  which  the  presence  of  an  accred- 
ited Messiah  excited.  None  evei'  stood  on  earth  who  could 
attract  such  engrossing  attention,  or  rouse  so  intense  com- 
motion of  soul.  Eyes  gazed  on  him  as  they  have  never 
gazed  since  or  befoi-e:  and  ears  listened  as  they  would 
listen  to  a  voice  fionj  the  spirit  world.  Never  were  the 
souls  of  men  so  absorbed  in  the  decision  of  vital  questions. 


HISTORICAL    AND   DOOTUINAL.  145 

It  is  not  mattei-  of  wonder  that  a  crowd  f>'atliei*ed  instant- 
ly, wherever  it  was  known  tha,t  he  might  be.  His  appear- 
ance, differing  so  from  ordinary  humanity,  the  wisdom  of 
his  speech  deeper  than  Solomon's,  the  tones  of  his  voice 
expressive  of  the  divinest  emotions,  charmed  them  into  a 
forgetfulness  of  hunger  or  fatigue.  And  then  the  greatest 
crisis  of  history  had  arrived  ;  and  the  air  was  thick  with 
doom,  and  burdened  with  the  premonition  of  some  impend- 
ing revolution. 

The  undertaking  of  four  men  to  penetrate  the  jam  at  the 
house  was  preposterous;  but  the  attempt  mas  made.  Ap- 
peals were  doubtless  made  to  the  humanity  of  the  bystand- 
ers, in  behalf  of  a  well  known  citizen  :  arguments  were  drawn 
from  the  opportunity  to  be  afforded  to  test  the  powers  of 
the  great  teacher,  and  the  pi-obability  of  beholding  a  mira- 
cle; but  appeals  and  arguments  were  useless:  a  dogged  re- 
sistance was  offered  to  all  approach.  There  was  doubtless 
sympathy  for  the  sufferer,  and  also  desire  to  behold  a  mir- 
acle wrought;  but  there  was  a  stronger  determination  not 
to  lose  an  inch  of  distance  from  the  one  centre  toward 
which  all  were  pressing,  or  one  \yord  of  the  disc-ourse.  The 
poor  sufferer  seemed  doomed  to  fail  of  relief,  notwithstand- 
ing the  nearness  of  the  helper. 

The  paralysis  under  Avhich  he  was  suffering,  is  a  disease 
which  strikes  its  blow  at  the  very  centre  and  foundation  of 
our  life.  The  victim  may  live  for  a  time;  but  life  is  but  a 
living  death.  The  vital  powers  are  being  fast  exhausted. 
While  this  subject  was  thus  helpless  in  body ;  his  soul  was  in 
a  condition  of  equal  or  greater  depression.  A  correct  opin- 
ion of  his  state  of  mind  can  be  formed  from  the  words  after- 
wards addressed  to  him  by  the  Savior,  whose  speech  was 
always  to  the  point,  and  suited  exactly  to  the  condition 
of  those  addressed :  and  from  his  words  it  is  plain  that  he 
was  languishing  under  the  conviction  of  unforgiven  sin. 
The  angel  of  death  had  been  breathing  in  his  face ;  and  the 
dread  |jrospect  of  the  future  had  bi-ought  his  sins  to  re- 
membrance. His  soul  was  paralyzed  as  well  by  foreboding 
and  despair. 

Of  all  the  sorrows  known  on  earth,  nothing  is  more  wear- 
ing and  life-destroying  than  conviction  of  sin,  and  the  at- 


14ri)  SKETCHES    FItOM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

tcudaiit  remorse.  When  death  eome.s  to  the  couch  of  sick- 
ness, and  hell  follows  after,  the  shaken  dart  is  poisoned 
with  the  sting'  of  retribution,  and  the  sorrows  of  time  seem 
light  and  unworthy  of  attention,  compared  with  the  deeper 
afiony,  which  seizes  the  spirit,  more  killino  than  all  the 
ills  of  life  united  can  intlict.  No  more  pitiable  object  can 
be  found  than  the  man,  who  is  facing  the  i-etributions  of 
the  future,  with  the  full  knowledge  of  his  guilt  unatoned 
and  unfoi-giveu.  Such  was  the  sufferer  of  that  memorable 
day:  and  well  was  it  for  him,  that  his  friends,  sympathiz- 
ing with  his  unutterable  anguish  of  soul,  were  determined 
to  i-arry  out  their  attempt  to  reach  the  great  healer  to  a 
certain  success.  Our  Savior  applauds  the  faith  of  the  beai-- 
ers  especially. 

Some  one  of  them  in  the  full  tide  of  a  vigorous  faith, 
suggested  that  they  try  the  roof,  ascent  to  which  was  still 
practicable.  Those  succeed  in  gaining  spiritual  blessings, 
whom  no  obstacles  can  overcome  or  difficulties  deter.  The 
outside  stairs  leading  to  the  roof  were  still  unoccupied;  and 
the  four  friends  hastened  to  ascend  them,  and  to  cross  the 
roof  to  the  poi-ch  immediately  above  where  Jesus  was  sit- 
ting. The  roof  of  those  times  was  solidh^  constructed,  and 
was  used  for  sitting,  promenading  and  sleeping;  but  the 
innei-  porch,  in  ^vhich  the  master  was  sitting,  seems  to 
have  been  covered  with  courses  of  tiles,  making  it  water- 
terpoof;  but  having  no  inner  lining  under  the  tiles.  The 
taking  uj)  of  enough  of  these  to  allow  the  passage  of  the 
bed  between  the  adjacent  rafters,  was  all  that  was  rec^uired 
to  afford  them  access  to  the  one  they  sought.  Having  made 
all  the  necessary  preparations  before  the  ascent,  by  ropes 
properly  attached,  they  let  the  helpless  invalid  down  into 
the  midst  where  the  Savior  was  sitting,  and  immediately 
before  him. 

The  sight  of  him  in  his  helpless  condition  was  a  sufficient 
appeal,  were  no  word  of  supplication  uttered.  This  act  of 
theirs  was  by  no  means  resented  by  the  master  as  an  in- 
trusion, or  regarded  as  an  interruption;  but  was  most 
cordially  welcomed  as  a  self-offei-ed  opj^ortunity  of  dis- 
jiensing  blessings,  and  affording  an  illustration  of  the  sub- 
ject of  which   he  was  speaking.     He  at   once  hastened   be- 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  147 

fore  a  request  had  been  made,  to  greet  the  sufferer  with 
the  p^reatest  boon,  that  (iod  can  bestow  or  man  receive: 
"Son,  be  of  good  cheer;  thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee."'  Tlie 
soul  demanded  the  Savior's  first  attention:  as  its  condition 
of  conviction;  of  felt  need,  and  utter  despair  was  the  chief 
misery  of  the  man :  and  relief  of  his  spiritual  wants  his 
chief  desire. 

Sin  is  a  paralysis  of  the  soul,  a  disease  striking  at  the 
very  centre  and  root  of  the  spiritual  life.  The  paralyzed 
body  may  be  perfect  in  all  its  parts,  possessing  all  the 
muscles  and  tendons  of  vigorous  manhood;  but  it  has  lost 
all  power  to  use  them.  It  lives  but  that  is  all:  it  is  but  a  help- 
less lump.  Sin  has  in  like  manner  destroyed  all  our  strength 
morally.  Paralysis  is  also  a  failure  of  sensibility.  The 
living  fiesh  has  lost  its  feeling,  and  hardly  notices  ]iuncture 
or  laceration.  What  better  description  of  our  moral  con- 
dition can  be  given?  The  fatal  palsy  of  sin  has  impaired 
the  moral  sensitiveness  of  the  soul.  Obligations  which  are 
confessed  are  not  suitably  felt;  mercies,  of  whose  magnitude 
all  are  intellectually  convinced,  are  not  appreciated:  grat- 
itude is  not  exercised,  though  it  is  acknowledged  to  be  due. 
The  duty  which  men  owe  to  God  to  love  and  serve  him  is 
better  founded  than  any  other  obligation,  more  imperative, 
more  urgent:  why  is  it  not  felt  and  rendered;?  Sin  has 
palsied  the  soul,  until  it  does  not  feel,  and  has  no  strength 
to  act.  Why  do  not  christians  trust  always  with  a  victori- 
ous faith?  Why  do  they  not  always  rejoice  with  joy  un- 
speakable and  full  of  glory?  They  are  under  the  palsy  of 
sin. 

The  pining  of  this  poor  invalid  for  some  evidence,  that 
sin  was  forgiven,  was  more  fervent  than  his  desire  to  be 
delivered  from  his  disease;  and  our  Lord  hailed  him  with 
the  most  comforting  assurance,  that  his  prayer  was  an- 
swered. He  did  not  pronounce  his  sins  forgiven:  he  lor- 
gave  them :  he  did  it  by  his  own  judicial  decision,  not  as 
a  messenger  of  peace  from  a  higher  court;  but  as  exercis- 
ing a  divine  prerogative.  He  did  it  by  the  same  authority 
by  which  he  controlled  disease  and  death. 

That  the  forgiveness  was  effective,  and  that  it  really  re- 
moved the  burden  of  guilt  from  this  disconsolate  mourner, 


148  SKETCHES    FROM    THE    IJFK   OF  JESUS. 

was  evident  to  all  who  had  the  opportunity  of  observing: 
him.  The  manifest  signs  of  the  new  birth  are  unmistakable, 
and  fasten  the  intense  gaze  of  every  beholder.  The  child- 
like humility,  the  joy  that  cannot  be  expressed,  the  holy 
trust,  paint  themselves  in  living  colors  upon  the  featui-es: 
and  may  be  discerned,,  were  verbal  expression  impossible. 
In  anothei-  instance  it  is  said  that  "they  in  the  council 
beheld  the  countenance  of  Stephen  as  of  an  angel."  So  in 
this  case  the  light  of  a  new  life  shone  at  once  in  the  eyes, 
and  illuminated  the  face  of  clay  with  a  celestial  glory. 

When  Jesus  said  to  him:  ''thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee,'* 
the  weight  of  condemnation  was  at  once  lifted  from  his 
heart;  and  the  hope  and  courage  of  the  new  life  began  to 
beat  in  the  pulses  of  his  soul.  Heaven  had  come  down  to 
him  on  earth :  and  Jesus  of  Nazareth  was  the  sun,  whose- 
beams  enlightened  the  world  of  glory.  His  soul  was  stilled 
into  the  deepest  submission:  he  was  now  willing  to  endure 
his  bodily  affliction,  even  were  it  life-long.  His  desire  was 
to  do  and  suffer  the  whole  will  of  (lod.  This  sub- 
mission is  the  very  essence  of  heaven.  No  angel  in  the 
skies  realizes  a  fuller,  deeper  joy,  than  the  soul  that  sinks 
into  the  hands  of  God  without  a  wish  of  its  own,  laying- 
itself  upon  the  altar  of  fire  as  a  whole  burnt  offering.  A 
revelation  always  accompanies  the  pardon  of  sin,  which 
transforms  the  recipient,  and  makes  him  a  partaker  with 
the  saints  in  glory. 

How  ready  Jesus  is  to  forgive  sin  appears  fi'om  this 
history.  How  h^.  loves,  how  he  welcomes  the  returning- 
prodigal,  how  he  rejoices  over  him  with  singing!  The  sin- 
ner saved  rejoices  with  a  joy  unsi)eakable  and  full  of  glory: 
but  the  mighty. Saviour  feels  a  mere  intense,  a  nobler  joy. 
The  boundless,  infinite  happiness  of  Jehovah  arises  from 
his  indulgence  o.f  mercy.  Judgment  is  his  sti'ange  work ; 
but  mercy  is  his  delight.  When  Moses  prayed  to  behold 
the  glory  of  God,  the  Lord  caused  all  his  goodness  to 
pass  before  him:  and  tlie  crown  of  the  whole  was,  '-for- 
giving iniquity,  transgression  and  sin.'" 

The  value  and  preciousness  of  this  forgiveness  will  be 
I'ealized,  when  it  is  considered,  that  it  is  a  legal  release  re- 
corded in  thocourt  of  h<'av(;n,  from  all  the  claims  of  thedivine 


HISTORICAL    AND    DOCTKINAL.  149 

law  aj>-ainst  a  man  for  i)ast  transgressions.  When  the  law 
of  God  relaxes  its  condemnation  for  ])ast  sins,  a  strange 
peace  of  (Conscience  ensues,  like  the  quiet  which  followed 
upon  the  sea  of  Galilee,  when  the  winds  were  laid  in  an  in- 
stant by  the  word  of  Christ,  and  the  sea,  ceased  its  raging, 
and  there  was  a  great  calm.  Such  is  the  calm  of  the  for- 
given soul. 

Jesus  forgives  with  the  full  knowledge  of  all  the  hidden 
evils  of  the  heart  unsuspected  bv  ourselves.  The  present 
account  exhibits  him  as  reading  the  bottom  thoughts  of 
those  about  him,  as  one  reads  a  book.  "'Man  looketh  upon 
the  outward  appearance;  but  the  Lord  looketh  upon  the 
heart."  The  heart  which  should  be  the  best  part  of  man 
is  the  worst,  far  worse  than  the  outward  life.  Its  rebell- 
ions and  murmurings  and  hatred  of  God  and  man  are 
studiously  concealed,  to  avoid  intolerable  shame.  Indeed 
a  man  is  a  stranger  to  his  own  heart;  until  the  holy  light 
shines  in.  and  reveals  its  horrors.  When  he  at  leng-th  sees 
his  own  true  inwardness,  he  generally  despairs  of  pardon 
altogether;  but  Jesus  knowing  all  yet  forgives;  and  his 
pardon  is  irreversible.  Wliat  is  loosed  on  earth  is  loosed 
in  heaven;  and  "the  gifts  and  calling  of  God  are  without 
repentance."    His  decree  of  absolution  is  never  recalled. 

The  Pharisees  and  doctors  of  the  law  sitting  by  Avere 
shocked  by  the  words  spoken  by  our  Lord.  In  them  he 
was  not  only  arrogating  a  divine  holiness  and  superiority 
to  evil  more  strongly  than  could  be  asserted  in  words; 
but  he  was  exercising  the  prerogative  belonging  to  God 
alone  of  loosing  that  which  God  himself  had  bound. 
Their  minds  were  full  of  the  charge  of  blasphemy.  Jesus 
did  not  wait  for  them  to  utter  their  thoughts,  or  consult 
each  other's  judgment ;  but  at  once  answered  the  unspoken 
accusation  by  an  appeal  to  the  Most  High,  whose  rights 
had  been  invaded  as  the  objectors  imagined.  It  was  saying 
in  effect;  let  God,  for  whose  honor  you  are  so  zealous, 
decide. 

The  question,  "Who  can  forgive  sins  but  God  alone?" 
contained  an  unijuestionable  truth.  It  belongs  to  God  alone 
to  forgive,  as  it  is  his  to  punish.  In  all  human  govern- 
ments, the  pardoning  power  is  vested  in  the  highest  exec- 


150  SKETCHES    FROM    THE    LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

utive  officer.  Being-  of  the  o-ravest  import,  it  requires  to 
be  exercised  with  the  wisest  discretion ;  lest  it  be  attended 
with  the  most  eminent  injury  to  the  state.  Of  all  trusts 
committed  to  officials,  none  should  be  more  jealously 
guarded,  or  used  with  nicer  judgement.  The  proper  ad- 
ministration of  justice  requires,  that  all  possible  safeguards 
should  be  thrown  around  every  process  of  law.  In  the 
government  of  (rod  the  issuing  of  a  pardon  for  offences 
committed  is  an  exercise  of  the  supremest  prerogative, 
which  the  ^^ost  High  guards  with  a  jealousy  of  supervision 
that  suffers  no  violation.  Who  can  forgive  sins  but  God 
alone?  Who  can  reverse  the  sentence  of  Jehovah  himself 
from  the  court  above? 

Jesus  appealed  to  heaven  to  sustain  his  declaration  of 
absolution  of  this  ])enitent;  and  staked  the  issue  between 
himself  and  the  doctors  of  the  law  upon  the  result.  Let 
(lod  decide  by  miracle  whether  the  Nazarene  possessed  the 
power  to  pai-don  and  restore  the  soul  to  the  divine  favor. 
Accoi-dingly  he  said  to  the  languishing  cripple:  ''That  ye 
may  know  that  the  son  of  man  hath  power  to  forgive  sins: 
I  say  unto  thee,  arise  and  take  up  thy  bed,  and  go  unto  thy 
house."  Thereby  let  all  men  know  by  the  decision  of  God 
himself,  my  right  and  authority  to  forgive. 

To  the  amazement  of  the  assembly,  the  weak  and  power- 
less paralytic  arose  with  the  agility  of  health,  took  up 
his  bed,  and  swinging  it  with  all  the  ease  of  full  strength,  de- 
parted with  firm,  unfaltering  step ;  the  dense  crowd  opening- 
befoi-e  him.  His  ^oy  could  not  be  contained,  and  he  broke 
out  into  loud  praises,  glorifying  God  for  the  priceless  favor 
bestowed.  If  he  emulated  in  his  demonstration  the  lame 
nmn  aftei-wards  healed  by  Petei-  and  John,  none  could  be 
-heartless  enough  to  condemn  him.  As  he  passed,  the  teacher 
may  have  said  :  just  as  his  body  has  received  strength  in- 
stantaneously at  my  word:  so  had  his  inner-man  in  like 
manner  been  i*elieved  from  the  burden  of  guilt  before.  A 
new  ])hysical  life  lias  come  to  him :  a  new  spiritual  life  had 
already  l)een  infused  into  the  soul  at  my  word.  The 
Father's  testimony  "This  is  my  beloved  son,  in  whom  I 
am  well  ])]eased,""  was  given  as  distinctly  as  it  had  been 
j>rochiimed  at  the  Jordan. 


HISTORKAL   AND    DOCTKINAL.  151 

Our  r^oi'fl  ^ave  them  to  understand  further,  tha.t  all  de- 
pended upon  the  word  that  he  might  please  to  speak: 
'"Whether  is  it  easier  to  say,  thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee;  or 
to  say,  arise  and  walk."  Did  it  require  an  unbounded  ex- 
ertion on  the  part  of  dod  to  create  all  things,  an  incon- 
ceivably potent  conatus?  It  re(|[uired  only  just  as  much 
effort  as  the  pronouncing  of  the  words,  let  there  be  light, 
let  the  sea  bring  forth,  let  the  land  bring  forth.  God  calls 
things  that  are  not,  and  they  are.  All  depends  upon  the 
word  he  may  please  to  utter.  The  same  is  true  of  the 
Son:  his  word  is  sufficient  to  take  away  sin;  though  this 
be  a  far  greater  work  than  creating  worlds.  Bringing  or- 
der into  the  sin-disturbed  soul,  removing  the  stains  of  guilt, 
and  restoring  the  throne  of  the  affections  to  the  (lod  whose 
it  is  of  I'ight,  is  a  greater  accomplishment  than  bringing 
dead  matter  into  existence,  however  grand  and  glorious  the 
spheres  of  light  may  be,  moving  in  their  sublime  and  almost 
measureless  circuits.  Jesus  accomplishes  impossibilities  by 
a  word :  there  is  omnipotence  in  his  lightest  command  :  he 
is  competent  to  the  great  work  of  renewing  and  saving  the 
guilty  soul. 

Vain  is  the  attempt  to  imagine  a  statement  more  aston- 
ishing, more  crushing,  more  divine.  The  greatness  of  the 
claim  seems  to  have  overwhelmed  the  objectors.  Upon  the 
assembly  there  rested  the  awe  of  a  mysterious  presence, 
before  which  all  things  bowed,  that  are  in  heaven  and  on 
the  earth,  and  under  the  earth.  The  evident  truth  of  all 
the  claims  of  the  Nazarene  was  before  the  eyes  of  the 
assembh',  and  was  undeniable.  Had  there  been  lack  of 
the  fullest  evidence,  there  were  present  those,  who  would 
have  risen  against  him  on  the  spot ;  but  every  mouth  was 
shut;  their  breath  was  taken  away:  and  there  was  not  a 
word  of  disapproval.  An  involuntary  fear  paralyzed  the 
assembly;  a  ''great  fear"  fell  upon  them.  He  who  wielded 
such  powers  to  bless,  possessed  equal  power  to  destroy. 
By  a  general  conviction,  they  ti*embled  before  him.  Just 
as  the  mighty  works  of  God  in  nature,  the  destroying- 
wind,  or  earthcpia^e  flash  upon  men  a  sense  of  their  de- 
pendence and  accountability :  so  the  im]3ressions  of  that 
day  were  profound   and  not  soon  forgotten.    The  healing 


152  SKFCTCHES   FKOM    THK    LWK   OF   JESUS. 

of  the  poor  cripple  was  the  smallest  circuiiistance:  it  was 
the  words  of  the  mysterious  teacher,  the  doetririe,  the 
demonstration.  Yet  how  slow  is  the  human  mind  in  re- 
ceiving the  truth  respectino-  Jesus !  It  is  said  further :  The 
people  "  Glorified  God,  which  had  given  such  power  unto 
nwn!"  How  the  heart  is  closed  against,  the  admission  of 
the  divinity  of  Jesus! 

Their  fellow-townsman  remained  among  them,  a  liv- 
ing example  of  a  new  and  changed  life,  full  of  spiritual 
aspirations,  and  endeavoi's  after  new  obedience:  quite  in 
contrast  with  his  former  course,  which  may  have  been  totally 
different.  \  witness  of  the  power  and  mercy  as  well  as 
tlie  high  pretensions  of  the  humble  Nazarene  remained  with 
them.  All  felt  his  entire  unlikeness  to  all  that  had  been 
seen  in  the  past:  that  he  could  not  be  numbered  with 
projihets ;  nor  his  woi-ks  be  classed  with  any  that  had  been 
seen  in  Israel.  The  clear  demonstration  of  his  divinity 
dawned  very  gradually,  and  gently  upon  his  disciples ;  and 
it  was  only  after  multiplied  evidences  and  unquestionable 
proof,  that  they  acknowledged  him  to  be  the  son  of  God : 
and  then  the  full  significance  of  the  designation  was  evi- 
dently not  taken  in  by  them  until  they  had  seen  him  as- 
cend. As  for  the  multitude,  impressions,  however  deep 
and  solemn  at  the  time,  are  evanescent:  but  they  had 
heard  the  claims  of  the  Nazarene  stated  with  a  demonstra- 
tion that  defied  contradiction,  and  shut  the  mouth  of  op- 

])osition. 

« 


HISTORICAL    AM)    DOCTKIXAL.  153 


CHAPTER   XV. 


THE  DEMONIAC  OF  GADARA, 


Oil  this  particular  day,  our  Lord  spent  the  whole  fore- 
noon in  teachino-  laro-e  crowds  on  the  western  shore  of  the 
lake:  until  he  was  quite  overcome  with  fatigue,  and  his 
physical  frame  demanded  immediate  relief.  A  sudden  order 
was  given  to  cross  the  lake;  and  he  w^as  taken  "as  he 
Avas"  into  the  ship  without  delay  for  procuring  provisions, 
or  means  of  repose.  The  calumny  had  already  found  ut- 
terance: that  he  had  an  unclean  spirit,  and  was  in  league 
with  Beelzebub.  While  the  reality  of  his  miracles  was  not 
denied,  many  were  still  unconvinced  by  them :  because 
they  were  wrought  with  no  display  of  visible  omnipotence. 

Such  demanded  a  sign  from  heaven  that  could  be  seen; 
and  God  was  about  to  grant  it.  He,  that  holds  the  winds 
in  his  fist,  and  manages  the  seas,  was  present  in  the  per- 
son of  the  Nazarene. 

The  disciples  were  surprised  in  mid-passage  by  a  storm, 
w'hich  caught  them  with  sails  set  and  hatches  open.  The 
onh'  possible  recourse  of  the  mariner  in  that  land-locked 
sea,  was  immediately  to  head  his  ship  to  the  wind,  and 
lash  the  helm  to  the  starboard,  and  lay  the  ship  to.  Failing 
in  this,  they  were  in  imminent  peril.  Their  appeal  to  the 
Master  "we  perish'  was  no  exaggeration;  wreck  upon  the 
shore  was  certain,  and  that  soon.  He  arose;  and  while  they 
expected  him  in  some  way  to  bring  the  shi]i  to,  and  lay 
its  nose  to  the  wind,  they  were  lost  in  unbounded  amaze- 
ment to  hear  him  speak  to  the  wind ;  and  it  hushed  in- 
tantly.  The  jerking  of  the  sea,  when  the  wind  is  coin])letely 
lulled,  is  more  straining  to  the  vessel,  than  the  storm 
itself.  He  issued  his  woi-d  to  the  sea:  and  it  fell  into  the 
smoothness  of  a  calm. 


154  SKETCHES   FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

The  hush  of  tlie  storm  at  his  word  was  at  once  a,  si<»ii 
from  the  sky,  and  an  indication  of  his  true  personahty :  for 
it  broujilit  the  inquiry  to  every  lip.  ''Who  is  this,  that  even 
the  wind  and  tlie  sea  obey  him?'"  He  is  no  underline-  of 
Satan ;  but  Lord  of  the  realm  of  nature,  (^uite  a  little 
fleet  had  followed  the  parting-  ship:  and  oppressed  as  the 
Master  was  with  hunger  and  fatigue,  he  sank  at  once  into 
a  profound  slumber.  How  weak  was  his  humanity,  so 
utterly  overpowered  as  to  be  unable  to  keep  the  eyes 
open ;  what  calmness  of  repose  as  he  lay  seemingly  uncon- 
scious, when  the  storm  came  on,  and  the  wind  tossed  his 
locks,  and  whipped  his  robes  about  his  limbs !  and  aftei  he 
was  awakened  and  stood  up  on  his  feet  what  serene  assur- 
ance of  command!  "What  a  word  is  this?"'  so  calm,  so 
omnipotent!  Nothing  so  sublime  as  this  scene  upon  the 
lake  was  ever  conceived :  the  life-like  story  carries  in  itself 
evidence  of  its  truth.  Here  was  the  blending  of  human 
weakness  and  eternal  might. 

The  disciples  were  properly  reproved  for  their  want  of 
faith.  The}^  as  well  as  the  multitude,  had  need  of  enter- 
taining a  higher  estimate  of  the  Master,  than  it  had  entered 
into  their  hearts  to  conceive.  If  he  commanded  them  to 
go  to  the  othei-  side;  they  could  no  more  go  to  the  bot- 
tom, than  they  could  go  to  the  stars.  His  command 
always  caiTies  with  it  a  promise  of  aid  in  the  performance 
of  what  is  required. 

When  the  ship  came  to  shore,  it  was  at  the  landing  of 
the  city  of  (ladarr,  which  was  yet  some  miles  inland,  and 
toward  which  our  Lord  took  his  way.  The  miracle  which 
occurred  on  the  route  seems  to  have  been  wrought  for  the 
j)urpose  of  demonstrating  the  reality  of  demoniacal  pos- 
session ;  that  it  was  more  than  ordinary  lunacy ;  and  that 
there  could  be  no  confederacy  between  Jesus  and  those  deni- 
zens of  the  pit:  the  sole  object  of  the  one  being  destruc- 
tion and  misery,  of  the  other,  the  deliverance  of  men  from  suf- 
fering and  from  sin.  The  patients  in  this  case  were  un- 
doubtedly insane:  and  being  in  this  condition  without  the 
powei-  of  resistance,  they  had  become  the  lawful  prey  of 
the  evil  ])owei's.      (Tnlike  ordinary  lunatics,  who  are  inca- 


HISTORICAL   AND    DOCTRINAL.  155 

pable  of  conspiracy,  they  herded  together  and  formed  a 
partnership  in  mischief,  as  they  were  partners  in  misfor- 
tune. 

Matthew  with  his  usual  exactness  in  numbers,  is  the  only 
one  who  informs  us  of  the  two.  One  was  so  inferior  in 
ferocity  and  strength  as  to  be  hardly  noticed ;  yet  he 
sought  his  partner's  horrid  society,  and  emulated  him  in 
the  achievement  of  their  dreadful  undertakings.  The  des- 
cription by  the  sacred  writers  surpasses  in  melancholy  in- 
terest anything  occurring  in  our  days.  Our  asylums  can 
by  no  means  parallel  the  case;  nor  in  the  history  of  de- 
mentia through  the  ages  can  its  like  be  found. 

1.  In  the  first  place  this  man  was  an  instance  of  supeila- 
tive  misery.  No  condition  can  be  conceived  more  dreadful 
than  to  be  identified  with  the  spirits,  who  are  the  prey  of 
everlasting  despair;  to  whom  hope  is  a  stranger  and  joy 
unknown;  and  to  be  ruled  by  their  malicious  instincts  of 
envy  of  all  seeming  happiness  that  exists.  They  drove  him 
to  the  tombs ;  not  empty  as  we  find  them  now,  and  per- 
vaded by  the  pure  atmosphere  of  to-day;  but  foul  with  de- 
caying remains  in  all  stages  of  decomposition.  Supersti- 
tion kept  visitors  aloof;  and  passers  by  in  the  night  hurried 
their  ste]is;  and  felt  a  panic  at  any  noise  issuing  in  the 
neighborhood.  Those  receptacles  of  the  dead  suited  the 
gloom  and  loneliness  of  the  poor  maniac,  as  they  did  of 
the  foul  spirits  who  made  him  the  sport  of  their  caprices. 
A  horror  darker  than  the  rayless  midnight,  and  a  misery 
beyond  relief  imparted  their  tinge  to  all  the  experience 
of  these  poor  victims.  No  song  of  joy,  or  shout  of  exul- 
tation, or  cry  of  satisfaction  was  ever  heard  from  them  ;  but 
only  howls  of  rage,  and  cries  so  dismal,  that  they  might 
have  issued  from  the  world  of  woe 

Sleep  was  a  stranger  to  their  eyes;  and  when  all  the  world 
was  locked  in  repose,- oft  in  the  stilly  night  there  sounded 
out  a  prolonged  yell,  that  carried  in  its  tone  such  un- 
earthly anguish  and  hoi-ror;  that  those  who  heai-d  it,  I'e- 
membei'ed  it  in  the  morning  as  a  horrid  dream,  and  some- 
times found  sleep  impossible  for  hours  aftei-wards.  These 
were  but  the  utterance  of  the  malignity  and  misei-y  in 
which  they  lived.    At  the  same  time  these  poor  men   were 


loG  skf:tchks  rijoNt  thp:  life  of  .iesus. 

but  puppet.s  in  the  hands  of  possessino-  demons,  and  mouth- 
pieces expressino"  the  passions  of  those,  whom  God  has  cast 
off.  Tlie  howl  of  the  wolf,  the  cry  of  the  panther,  and 
even  the  roar  of  the  lion,  heard  in  the  dead  of  night,  had 
not  a  note  so  demoralizing*:  nor  could  produce  an  equal 
sensation. 

2.  Tills  man  was  untameable.  He  had  been  bound  with 
manacles  at  the  wrist,  and  fetters  at  the  ankle;  and  such 
was  his  unnatural  strength,  that  bands  of  iron  could 
not  hold  him.  The  manacles  had  been  torn  asunder,  the 
links  severed  by  his  inordinate  energy;  and  the  fetters  had 
been  thrashed  to  pieces  by  stamping  and  kicking.  Again 
had  the  ti'ial  been  made  to  confine  him  by  yet  stronge^' 
bands  of  doubled  thickness;  but  his  detention  was  but 
temporary :  he  succeeded  in  beating  to  pieces  chains  and 
rings  with  a  sagacity  and  foi'ce,  which  were  always  victori- 
ous in  the  end.  The  effort  to  restrain  him  had  been 
renewed,  but  without  success:  so  that  all  attempts  to  con- 
trol him  had  been  abandoned:  and  he  was  left  to  be  the 
terror  of  the  neighborhood ;  and  had  even  put  a  sto]>  to 
travel  upon  one  of  the  roads,  approaching  the  city,  where 
his  favorite  haunt  was:  as  no  man  was  able  singly  to  en- 
counter him.  One  merely  insane  can  always  be  governed 
)>y  the  courage  of  the  keeper:  and  if  too  turbulent  is  still 
manageable  by  the  appliances  of  modern  treatment:  and 
the  most  violent  can  be  thus  curbed:  but  this  instance  of 
the  gospels  was  one,  in  which  all  means  of  subjugation 
failed :  and  tlie  stre:igth  and  ferocity  of  the  demented  pre- 
vailed and  conquered.  There  probably  never  was  a  worse 
case,  in  which  bars  and  heavy  chains  of  iron  were  insuffi- 
cient :  and  he  had  to  be  left  to  the  direction  of  his  own 
whims:  and  he  was  able  to  cope  with  and  defend  himself 
against  men  and. wild  beasts,  which  he  was  always  able 
to  dis])()ssess  and  conquer. 

The  temptation  to  self-destruction  seemed  ever  to  haunt 
him.  Doubtless  it  had  been  found  necessary  to  k^iej)  out 
of  his  reach  all  wea])ons  and  edged  tools:  not  only  for  fear 
of  damage  to  others,  but  for  fear  of  the  harm  he  might 
do  to  himself.  Whenever  he  could  find  a  stone  with  cutting 
edge  however    i-agged.    he    was    using  it  upon  himself:  and 


HISTO]{ICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  157 

was  frequently  discovered  with  thi'oat  lacerated  and  bleed- 
ini>\  or  other  soft  portions  of  his  body  nearly  cnt  throu<>h; 
so  that  there  was  a  posibility  of  finding-  him  any  morning- 
dead  by  his  own  hand.  No  man  ever  so  abused  his  own 
fiesh,  which  ordinarily  a  man  nourisheth  and  cherisheth 
with  the  greatest  care.  He  wore  no  clothes,  and  mercilessly 
exposed  himself  to  all  the  severities  of  the  weather.  He 
was  not  only  an  enemy  to  himself;  but  to  all  the  members 
of  his  family.  His  own  had  hardly  escaped  from  him  with 
their  lives.  If  he  did  not  succeed  in  killing  himself  out- 
right, he  was  destroying  himself  by  inches.  Such  sleepless 
excitement,  such  irregularities  of  living,  and  ever  recurring- 
attacks  upon  his  own  life,  could  not  fail  of  speedily  wearing- 
out  the  most  robust  constitution.  Self-destruction  was 
but  a  question  of  time;  and  none  scarcely  would  have  felt 
a  pang  at  learning  any  day  that  it  had  been  accomplished. 

It  had  not  been  thus  with  him  always.  He  had  his  own 
home,  in  which  he  had  been  the  idol  of  a  loving  wife,  an  af- 
fectionate husband  and  father,  and  a  respected  citizen  and 
friend:  but  a  shadow  darker  than  that  of  death  had  fallen 
upon  the  household,  when  its  head  had  suddenly  become  a 
terror  and  a  danger  to  all  the  neighborhood,  as  well  as  to 
those  most  closely  connected  with  him.  .Men  without  tied 
from  him.  when  they  saw  him;  and  the  doors  of  his  own 
house  were  barricaded  to  exclude  him;  neither  could  his 
family  be  safe  without  constant  precautions. 

Is  there  a  case  in  our  age  parallel  to  this  so  briefiy,  yet 
so  terribly  described  in  these  records?  Does  this  nineteenth 
century  possess  anything  kindred  or  a.na,lagous  to  this  pos- 
session by  devils?  Yes.  Every  considerable  community  furn- 
ishes examples  of  as  thrilling  and  as  horrid  interest.  There 
are  those  possessed  b)'  the  demon  of  drink,  the  demon  of 
gambling,  and  the  demon  of  sensuality,  whose  record  if 
fairly  written,  would  contain  as  appalling  disclosures  of  hope- 
less misery.  There  are  those  fi'om  whose  consciences 
the  weight  of  despair  is  never  lifted;  whom  no  obliga- 
tion, pledge  or  promise  can  bind.  Oaths  cannot  restrain 
them;  nor  can  the  sight  of  ruin  entailed  upon  impoverished 
families  deter  them.  The  restraints  of  christian  surround- 
ings and  church  connection  ar-e  but  ropes  of  sand.    If  thej^ 


158  SKETCHES   FKO.M    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

suffered  alone,  the  ease  were  less  severe;  but  other  lives  are 
so  entwined,  that  misery  is  multiplied  in  a  g-eometrical 
progress.  There  is  no  combination  of  saving  potencies,  to 
which  recourse  can  be  had  for  the  emancipation  of  the 
slaves  of  these  lusts.  They  are  past  correction:  "thou  hast 
no  healing  medicines.''  The  despotism  of  sin  is  absolute: 
like  death  it  never  lets  go.  No  Gadarene  demon  ever  held 
fiercer  sway,  or  more  stubbornly  defied  exorcism  than  these 
destroyers  of  our  modern  era,  the  drink  evil,  the  gambling 
evil  and  the  evil  of  sensuality. 

What  can  break  the  chains  of  this  voluntary  bondage? 
Who  can  deliver  the  cajitives  of  these  mighty?  Only  he 
that  is  stronger  than  the  strong  man  armed.  There  is  one 
in  human  form,  who  has  the  keys  of  death  and  of  hell; 
that  can  open  the  doors  of  the  ])rison,  and  bring  out  the 
prisoners  languishing  without  hope.  He  can  save  those 
who  have  no  strength,  and  break  the  teeth  of  the  mighty. 
He  is  on  his  way  to  the  city  of  Gadara  at  the  time  of 
which  we  are  writing. 

The  first  circumstance  of  interest  in  the  account  of  the 
cure  is  that  the  possessed  man  *'met  him.''  These  poor 
creatures  wherever  they  were  seem  to  have  recognized 
Jesus,  and  to  have  hovered  about  his  path.  So  this  man 
made  no  attempt  to  flee;  but,  understanding  that  the  ap- 
proaching teacher  w^as  "sou  of  the  most  high  God,"'  came 
and  fell  at  his  feet.  The  insane  distinguish  with  an  intui- 
tion peculiar  to  themselves;  but  in  this  case  thei-e  was 
more  than  this  i^ght;  the  spirits  were  directing  the 
speech.  The  man  is  kneeling  and  imploring ;  for  the  Master 
had  said:  "Come  out  of  the  man.''  We  are  hstening  to  a 
strange  dialogue  between  the  Lord  Jesus  and  the  unclean 
spirits,  from  which  we  learn  that  they  were  many  in  number, 
who  held  joint  possession  in  this  case;  that  Jesus  has  su- 
preme jurisdiction  over  them,  and  is  able  to  relegate  them 
to  the  abyss,  which  is  their  rightful  abode;  and  that  they 
had[no  power  of  mischief  on  earth  independent  of  his  per- 
mission. Thei-e  is  a  further  limitation  to  the  powei'  of 
Satan:  that  he  can  touch  no  responsible  creature  without 
that  creature's  full  consent. 


HISTOHICAL    AND    DOCTRINAr,.  159 

This  parley  of  the  demons  and  their  supplicatious  as 
being's  wholly  subject  to  the  permission  of  the  Savior,  af- 
forded a  needed  testimony  against  the  calumny  of  the 
Pharisees,  then  beginning  to  be  circulated.  They  were  in 
utter  antagonism  and  were  present  on  earth,  just  as  evil 
is  permitted,  and  yet  bounded  and  overruled.  Their  mali- 
cious mischief  was  the  very  opposite  of  the  work  of  Jesus, 
which  was  the  effecting  of  good  oidy. 

The  presence  of  a  large  herd  of  swine,  in  sight  but  at  a 
distance,  suggested  to  the  demons  the  desire  to  be  permit- 
ted full  liberty  with  regard  to  them:  possession  of  them, 
and  traffic  in  them  being  unlawful  to  Jews.  Our  Lord  gave 
them  permission  in  the  hearing  of  the  bystanders,  of  whom 
there  was  quite  a  comijany  as  appears;  and  immediatel}- 
the  poor  wretch,  who  had  been  in  the  power  of  the  demons, 
was  freed  from  the  ])OSsession:  and  regained  his  reason 
fully  as  in  his  best  days;  and  after  the  lapse  of  sufficient 
time  was  found  clothed,  and  in  his  right  mind,  and  sitting  at 
the  feet  of  Jesus  as  he  taught;  whom  indeed  he  was  un- 
willing to  leave  for  fear  of  the  recurrence  of  his  malady. 

We  have  no  doubt  that  more  fervent  gratitude,  and  more 
devout  worship  was  never  rendered  than  by  this  restored 
maniac.  We  are  not  told  that  he  fell  at  his  feet  and  wetted 
them  with  tears;  but  we  imagine  that  his  feeling  of  obli- 
gation was  like  that  of  Mary  of  Magdala  distinguishing 
her  above  all  that  loved  him.  The  cases  of  the  two  may 
not  have  been  ver^^  unlike.  We  know  that  he  was  united 
to  the  Savior  in  bonds  which  nought  could  sever. 

At  the  same  time,  though  at  a  considerable  distance,  an- 
other incident  is  occurring,  the  knowledge  of  which  is  neces- 
sary in  order  to  complete  the  story  of  the  cure.  The  large 
herd  of  swine,  peacefully  feeding  under  the  supervision  of  their 
kee]jers,[is  seized  by  an  ungovernable  heuzy.  They  'are  not 
fai"  from  a  precipice,  with  deep  w^ater  at  its  base;  and  the 
whole  herd,  at  one  and  the  same  moment,  manifests  a  fury 
of  determination  to  make  the  plunge.  The  utmost  efforts 
of  the  swineherds,  who  are  sutficient  for  an^'^  ordinary  emer- 
gency, cannot  prevent  the  rush.  The  weight  of  the  charge 
of  such  a  host  is  irresistible;  l)eKides,  the  bite  of  an  angry 
hog  or  the  goring  of  his  tusks,  is  not  lightly  to  be  encoun- 


160  ski:t(  Hi:s  fi{o.m  the  iavi:  of  jes^us. 

teretl.  Thf  kt^epens  exposed  their  lives  in  vain:  and  had  to 
tiee  fi-oni  the  stubborn  brutes  in  mortal  terror.  They  barely 
saved  themselves:  and  were  beyond  measure  amazed  at  the 
causeless,  and  uncontrollable  madness  exhibited  by  the 
brutes. 

p]scai)in^-.  they  tilled  the  city  with  the  news  of  the  loss,  and 
the  still  moi-e  w  onderful  frenzy,  which  seemed  to  have  taken 
possession  of  each  membei-  of  the  hei-d ;  so  wild,  that  had 
the  force  of  the  kee]jers  been  doubled,  or  had  the  whole 
])opulation  turned  out  en  ninsse  to  prevent  it,  every  animal 
would  still  have  i)erished  in  the  deep  sea.  The  reports  of 
the  two  incidents  met,  while  the  wonder  of  the  cit3'  was  at 
its  heio'ht,  and  supplemented  each  other.  The  restoration 
of  the  maniac  had  evidently  a  connection  with  the  loss  of 
the  swine.  By  comparison  of  the  acconnts  of  eyewitnesses 
in  both  cases,  the  whole  occurrence  was  explained.  The 
cure  of  their  fellow-citizen  had  cost  the  neighborhood  from 
ten  to  twenty  thousand  dollars  of  our  money:  and  had 
demonstrated  the  reality  of  Satanic  ])ossessions.  That  the 
demons  should  have  had  power  to  incite  and  exasperate 
the  swine,  is  no  more  inci'-edible:  than  that  the  great  tempter 
should  have  been  able  to  take  the  guidance  of  the  serpent 
in  the  garden  of  Kden,  and  articulate  language  through  the 
throat  of  an  animal,  that  has  no  vocal  utterance,  and  is 
incapable  of  making  a  sound  at  all.  As  we  liave  no  knowl- 
edge concerning  pure  spirits,  and  their  command  of  material 
things,  we  are  not  competent  to  deny,  as  we  are  not  to 
explain.  r] 

We  are  not  astonished  to  vend  -immediately,  that  the 
whole  i)oi)ulation  besought  him  to  depart  out  of  their 
coasts.  The  loss  of  so  much  property,  and  the  fear  inspired 
by  the  miracle,  which  so  plainly  proved  his  illimitable 
])ower,  connecte<l.  with  a  readiness  to  coriect  abuses,  pre- 
vailed oveitheii-  desire  to  listen  to  his  teachings:  and  led 
them  deliberately  to  request  his  departure.  Jesus  at  once 
took  ship  and  returned:  but  he  left  a  preacher  fully  quali-. 
tied  and  prepared  to  keep  him  before  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
ple. Tlu'  restored  man  besought  earnestly  that  he  might 
be  with  him  :  but  our  Lord  had  a  work  for  him  to  accom- 
plish, and  comuianded  him:    'Return  to  thy  house  and  thine 


HrSTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  161 

own:  and  tell  them  how  f>;reat  thinji'8  the  Ijord  hath  done 
unto  thee,  and  hath  had  compawsion  on  thee."  We  are  left  to 
our  own  imagination  to  supply  something  like  what  may 
have  been  the  details  of  his  work. 

As  he  approached  his  own  forsaken  home,  he  chose  to 
come  in  the  full  light  of  day,  and  not  as  he  sometimes 
had  done,  during  his  mental  aberration,  in  the  hours  of 
darkness:  when  his  fearful  cries  banished  slee])  from  all 
eyes.      He  also  walked  leisurely  along  the  traveled  road. 

Approaching  the  barricaded  house  without  outcry,  and 
with  all  the  gentleness  of  long  ago,  he  quietly  knocked  at 
the  barred  door  and  said:  "Wife,  I  bring  you  glad  tidings 
of  great  joy,  my  love  for  you  has  returned  in  all  its  early 
force:  I  love  you  as  on  the  daj^  of  our  espousals:  I  love 
our  dear  children  with  a  new  and  strong  affection :  but 
there  is  one  whom  T  love  bettei-  than  all.  Jesus  of  Nazar- 
eth monopolises  my  entire  affection,  and  is  the  centre  of 
my  whole  desire.  He  has  lifted  from  my  life  a  mountain 
load  of  misery ;  my  heart  was  a  den  of  devils,  and  he  has 
cast  them  out;  and  he  has  forgiven  my  sins;  and  i-estored 
me  to  you  and  to  himself.  My  whole  desire  now  is  to 
cherish  you,  and  bring-  you  to  the  acquaintance  of  this 
glorious  being,  whom  to  know  is  everlasting  life.  I  am 
now  ready  to  begin  indeed  the  new  life  of  love  and  duty. 

And  in  pursuance  of  the  command  given  him,  he  was  pro- 
claiming in  the  streets  of  the  city,  come  and  hear  all  ye 
that  fear  God;  and  I  will  declare  what  he  hath  done  for  m}- 
soul.  He  hath  spoken  unto  me,  and  himself  hath  done  it. 
But  yesterday  you  would  have  fled  from  me  as  from  a  wild 
beast;  but  now  my  heart  is  filled  with  love  for  you.  and 
for  all  men.  Jesus  of  Nazareth  did  it  by  a  word.  He  has 
changed  my  whole  life.  Just  as  at  his  word  when  he  was 
approaching  our  shore,  the  raging  wind  fell  instantly  to  a 
great  calm  and  the  sea  was  still;  so  to  me  his  word 
brought  instant  calm;  and  the  peace  of  (lod  hushed  the 
raging  of  my  soul.  My  life  was  indeed  a  ceaseless  storm; 
but  he  is  master  of  the  storm.  The  memory  of  it  is  like 
the  remembrance  of  a  horrid  nightmare;  but  he  has 
awakened  me  to  reason  and  to  peace.  He  that  delivered 
me  has  power  to  keep  me,  and  his  word  is  pledged  for  it; 
—11 


162  SKETCHES   FROM    THE   EIFE   OF   JESUS. 

and  on  that  1  rest  with  an  indescribably  sweet  assurance. 
My  whole  desire  now  is  that  you  all  may  know  him  ;  for 
to  know  him  is  everlastin<>'  life.  Though  you  have  be- 
sought him  to  depart  out  of  your  coasts:  yet  his  mercy 
endureth  forever.  The  favors  which  he  bestows  are  worth 
more  than  all  the  swine  in  the  country.  The  libei'ation 
of  the  captives,  the  opening  of  the  eyes  of  the  blind,  the 
restoration  of  the  suffering  are  not  to  be  compared  with 
the  loss  of  stock  which  we  are  not  authorized  to  keep. 
His  mercies  are  gi'anted  without  moue^'  and  without  pi'ice: 
just  as  he  pitied  me  in  my  low  estate,  and  saved  me  not 
for  mv  sake:  but  for  his  holv  name's  sake. 


HISTOIJK'AL   AND    UOCTIUNAL.  163 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


THE  CHARGE  OF  COMPLICITY  WITH  SATAN,    matt,  12;  22, 


This  account  affords  an  example  of  the  truth  and  honesty 
of  the  evanji'elists.  A  few  verses  contain  the  record  of  per- 
haps the  most  strikino-  display  of  jjower  in  the  whole  min- 
istry of  our  Lord :  but  it  is  related  without  a  word  of 
description  or  comment.  It  evidently  made  a  deeper  im- 
pression on  those  who  beheld  it,  than  any  other  mi<ihty 
Avork  in  his  whole  career.  The  narrators  give  us  no  suffi- 
cient statement  of  the  case ;  and  pass  over  almost  -in  silence 
all  except  the  hostile  comment  of  the  Pharisees,  and  the 
unanswerable  reply  of  the  master.  Occupied  with  the  ma- 
licious aspersions  of  opposers,  they  give  us  the  briefest  pos- 
sible statement  of  what  gave  occasion  to  their  speech.  The 
horrid  blasphemy  found  utterance  amid  the  blaze  of  the 
clearest  light.  These  simple-hearted  witnesses,  not  skilled 
advocates,  state  facts  almost  too  curtly;  and  leave  us  to 
make  out,  as  best  we  can,  the  accompanying  circumstances 
which  invest  them  with  an  unbounded  interest.  They  were 
not  men  of  genius;  but  men  of  truth.  Here  they  give  the 
scantiest  information  of  a  healing  which  astounded  those 
who  beheld  it. 

The  subject  was  blind,  deaf,  dumb,  and  possessed  of  a 
devil.  Probably  born  blind  and  dumb,  his  insanity  and 
possession  by  a  demon  had  been  the  result  of  the  treatment 
which  he  had  received.  The  woi'd  translated  dumb  includes 
also  congenital  deafness.  It  is  the  same  word  used  by  the 
angel  to  Zacharias,  "thou  shalt  be  dumb  for  a  season,'' 
and  deaf  as  well ;  as  he  understood  only  by  signs  made  to 
him.  It  is  now  definitely  settled,  that  the  deaf  and  dumb 
possess  the  organs  of  speech  in  normal  condition;  that  they 
can  be  taught  to  speak :   their  dumbness  being  thus  ascer- 


164  SKETCHES  FROM   THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

taiued  to  be  the  result  of  perfect  aud  congenital  deafness.  The 
patient  in  this  ease  was  then  blind  and  deaf  and  dumb 
from  birth:  and  besides  was  controlled  by  a  demon,  havino- 
previously  become  insane  from  abuse. 

Such  a  one  was  Laura  Bridgeman,  an  inmate  of  the  blind 
asylum  in  Boston,  Mass.,  blind  and  deaf  and  dumb.  By 
the  most  ingenious  and  persevering  instruction,  she  was 
enabled  to  hold  communication  with  the  world,  to  lead 
with  understanding,  to  write,  and  even  to  speak.  An  un- 
tiring attention  was  required  in  order  to  effect  this;  and 
she  received  it :  and  thus  became  an  object  of  interest  and 
sympathy  to  a  wide  circle. 

In  those  ancient  days  such  a  child  was  looked  upon  as 
"altogether  born  in  sins,'"  aud  not  deserving  of  kind  treat- 
ment even  from  its  own  par-ents,  to  whom  its  birth  seemed 
a  judgment  and  a  curse.  The  neglect  and  aversion  with 
which  such  a  one  would  be  regarded,  and  the  cruelty  and 
harshness  ^vith  which  he  would  be  treated  from  his  earliest 
recollection,  and  by  everyone;  until  life  became  a  burden, 
might  easily  terminate  in  a  hopeless  melancholy,  the  first 
stage  of  insanity.  When  this  insanity  became  violent,  and 
the  patient  became  vicious,  refractory  and  dangerous,  he 
was  a  fit  subject  for  satanic  yjossession. 

Indeed  all  the  cases  of  such  possession  described  in  the 
history  seem  to  have  been  of  the  insane  or  idiotic,  the 
demonism  being  something  additional  to  the  insanity  or 
idiocy. 

A  good  God  wot,.ld  certainly  not  subject  a  human  being 
of  normal  condition  and  against  his  will  to  such  a  domin- 
ion; or  permit  such  a  thing.  Perhaps  cases  of  possession 
do  not  occur  in  our  day,  more  than  angels  appear  now; 
but  in  the  time  of  Christ  angels  and  devils  hung  around 
th«'  earth  contin-ually.  Yet  in  occasional  instances,  it  is 
im])Ossible  even  in  our  days  to  avoid  the  suspicion  that 
malignant  spirits  inspire  the  malicious  purposes  of  the  in- 
sane. One  thing  remains  true  however,  that  Satan  cannot 
injure  free  and  rational  beings  without  their  own  consent; 
but  to  what  extent  he  may  be  permitted  to  use  those  who 
are  no  longer  in  their  right  mind,  we  have  no  means  of 
determining.    The  children,  of  whom  two  cases  are  named 


HlSTOHirAL   AND    IKKTHINAL.  165 

as  being  under  this  evil  influence,  must  have  been  either 
imbecile  or  idiotic,  as  children  ai-e  not  ordinarily  victims  of 
insanit}'.  Those  possessed  by  Satan  are  not  under  the 
temptation  of  the  devil:  but  under  his  full  control.  Tempta- 
tion can  be  resisted  and  overcome;  possession  was  a  more 
advanced  stage,  in  which  resistance  to  evil  had  become  im- 
possible: and  the  victim  had  become  the  lawful  prey  of  the 
mighty:  his  personality  had  become  merged:  and  his  "I" 
had  become  "We."" 

Such  was  the  being,  the  monster  that  was  brought  to 
Jesus,  the  most  miserable,  the  most  abject,  the  most  hor- 
rible of  the  millions  of  the  race  during  ages,  dumb,  deaf; 
blind,  insane,  possessed,  hlthy,  furious  and  resisting:  one 
that  had  never  felt  the  warm  l)reath  of  pity,  a  stranger 
to  love  and  affection,  a  fiend  in  temper.  "'AVe  read  of  no 
father  coming  with  teai's;  of  no  mother  whose  heart  was 
aching  over  a  child's  condition.  He  seems  outcast  from 
the  sympathy  of  family  and  friends,  and  followed  by  none 
of  the  tenderness  which  in  the  case  of  others  supplicated 
aid  with  broken  sobs.  He  "'was  brought""  is  all  that  we 
are  told,  by  superior  force  probably,  as  a  test  to  the  power 
of  the  prophet,  as  a  case  surpassing  his  restoring  agency: 
and  Jesus  saw  himself  face  to  face  with  an  object  exhibit- 
ing all  the  worst  features  of  want  and  ruin  that  the  world 
ever  saw  complicated  together,  or  sin  ever  produced.  The 
misery  of  two  worlds  were  represented  in  him;  and  in  him 
beast  and  devil  contended  for  mastery. 

Greater  interest  never  centered  around  any  sufferer  ])rehented 
for  the  healing  ministration  of  the  Nazai-ene :  and  a  crowd 
never  watched  with  more  intense  curiosity  the  result  of  the 
application.  In  the  deepest  silence  all  waited  with  bated 
b]-eath  to  see  the  outcome;  looking  with  horror  upon  the 
poor  victim  of  the  evil  powers,  and  hardly  expecting  for 
him  relief,  not  to  say  perfect  deliverance. 

In  order  to  appreciate  the  full  magnitude  of  the  cure 
effected  in  this  case  it  is  well  to  dwell  a  little  upon  the 
poor  man"s  condition.  In  our  penitentiaries,  the  convict 
dreads  above  all  other  punishments  confinement  in  the 
''solitary,"  as  they  call  it:  to  be  left  to  darkness  and 
silence  for  a  period:   not  to  kno\v  when  the  day  begins  or 


166  SKKTCHKS    IM{0.\I    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

terminates:  and  to  be  shut  off  from  all  commnnieation 
with  the  outside  world ;  and  left  to  no  companionship  but 
himself,  and  his  own  miserable  consciousness.  Any  suffer- 
ing- whatever  is  considered  prefeiable.  This  poor  creature 
was  in  the  solitary  all  the  time  since  birth;  and  knew 
nothing-  else.  He  was  not  only  destitute  of  light  and 
sound :  he  had  no  conception  of  either.  The  gloom  and 
.silence  of  the  grave  are  not  more  dreadful  than  his  life. 
Had  he  been  bui-ied  in  a  cell  a  hundred  feet  below  the  sur- 
face, where  no  ray  could  penetrate,  and  no  jar  of  sound 
be  ever  distinguished :  he  could  not  have  been  more  en- 
tombed than  he  was  from  birth.  His  mental  powers  were 
of  course  entirely  undeveloped:  and  had  made  no  appre- 
ciable advance  beyond  the  stage  of  infancy ;  and  his  knowl- 
edge amounted  to  little  more  than  nothing.  His  must 
have  been  the  lowest  conceivable  grade  of  intellectual  life: 
the  beast  nature  alone  lived  in  him.  Incapable  of  corres- 
pondence with  a  human  being,  and  left  to  the  brooding  of 
his  own  melanchoh'  and  malignant  thoughts,  under  the 
conviction  that  everyone  was  an  enemy  and  in  arms 
against  him,  he  must  have  become  a  terror. 

All  cheerfulness  and  hope  are  associated  with  the  pres- 
ence of  light.  Through  all  generations  and  in  all  lan- 
guages, happiness  and  light  illustrate  each  other;  and 
darkness  and  sorrow  are  associated.  By  the  presence  of 
light  we  distinguish  day  and  night,  and  enjoy  a  visible 
picture  of  the  passing  scene,  and  of  all  the  world  con- 
tains; receiving  n>ore  ideas  through  the  sense  of  sight  than 
from  any  other  source.  Sound  is  nearly  as  important  to 
us  as  light.  By  it  we  gain  the  power  of  speech;  are  able 
to  hold  intercourse  with  others;  and  hear  the  world 
around  us.  Evei\'  animate  object  and  most  inanimate 
oiies  are  giving  continual  notice  of  their  existence  by  their 
n])pro|»riate  voices.  How  desolate  would  be  the  life  de- 
])rivpd  of  these  two  chief  inlets  of  knowledge,  those  who 
])ossess  them  are  not  easily  able  to  conceive.  After 
unmei-ited  abuse  liad  crazed  tliis  poor  unfortunate,  his  soul 
became  like  some  storm  swei)t  ruin,  built  upon  some  iso- 
lated crag,  forsaken  by  everything  exce|)t  the  riotous  winds, 
which  howled    through  its  doorless  and   open   walls  their 


HISTORICAL    AND   DOCTKIXAL.  167 

<loleful  music :  and  Satan  fiuding-  it  empty  toolv  po.sses- 
«ion ;  and  made  it  his  own  fearful  abode.  To  be  given  up 
to  such  dominion  is  the  nearest  approach  to  the  horrors 
of  perdition  ever  made  in  this  world :  and  it  was  the  sad- 
dest feature  of  this  case,  that  he  carried  in  his  bosom  a 
hell  not  his  own,  and  an  inmate  who  breathed  only  des- 
pair. Outcast  from  home  and  friends,  shunned  b}^  every- 
one, controlled  by  force  only,  his  life  must  have  resemV)led 
more  that  of  a  brute,  than  that  of  a  human  being. 

The  activity  of  the  great  tempter,  and  his  ubiquity  either 
in  his  own  person  or  that  of  some  one  of  his  coadjutors, 
at  every  opening,  in  which  (lod  permits  him  to  operate, 
are  a  sufficient  refutation  of  the  notion,  that  the  hopeless 
despair  of  the  lost  will  have  a  tendency  to  paralyze  their 
very  being,  and  sink  into  stagnation  s^W  the  energies  of 
their  immortal  nature.  We  learn  from  the  New  Testament 
history  that  the  intelligent  spirit  though  lost,  freed  from 
the  incumbrance  of  our  gross  flesh,  possesses  a  vitalitj^ 
which  cannot  be  exhausted,  and  an  activit^^  which  cannot 
be  restrained.  This  activity  may  be  devoted  to  the  evil 
for  the  evil's  sake;  but  it  is  an  inseparable  endowment  of 
the  deathless  spirit. 

When  our  Lord  found  himself  thus  confronted  with  this 
most  horrid  specimen  of  the  human  kind,  we  are  told  that 
he  restored  him  uerfectly;  so  that  "the  blind  and  dumb 
both  spake  and  saw;"'  but  we  are  not  informed  whether 
the  cure  was  effected  b^'  one  step  or  two;  nor  are  any  de- 
tails given.  He  probably  first  cast  out  the  demon,  thus 
quelling  the  antagonism,  and  calming  the  excitement  of  the 
patient.  In  all  cases  of  cure  which  are  described  to  us,  he 
held  communication  in  some  way  with  the  applicant;  such 
as  to  fix  in  his  mind,  that  the  cure  was  from  himself.  He 
addressed  the  blind  man  through  the  sense  of  touch,  by 
spreading  clay  upon  his  eyelids;  with  the  deaf  man  who 
could  see,  he  used  pantomime;  and  having  spit  upon  his 
own  finger,  he  with  it  touched  his  ears  and  his  tongue.  He 
operated  thus  in  order  to  awaken  faith  and  expectation  in 
their  minds;  and  to  make  them  understand  that  himself 
was  the  author  of  their  restoration.  How  he  proceeded 
with    this  poor  man,  after  he  had  been   quieted  and  ren- 


168  SKETCHHS    FROM    THE    LIFE    OF   JESV.S. 

(lered  passive,  who  could  be  addressed  only  through  the 
sense  of  touch,  we  are  not  informed:  however  interestino- 
to  us  it  might  be  to  know.  We  are  only  certified  that  the 
patient  regained  the  full  enjoyment  of  his  senses,  and 
knew  that  he  owed  all  to  the  power  of  Jesus. 

Had  this  miracle,  more  illustrious  indeed  than  the  healings 
of  the  blind  man  in  Jerusalem  and  the  Gadarene  demoniac 
combined,  been  wrought  in  the  holy  city,  instead  of  being' 
effected  in  an  obscure  and  almost  unknown  hamlet,  it 
would  have  engrossed  i)ublic  attention  far  more. 

At  least  three  distinct  miracles  were  included  in  this  one: 
and  as  it  was  inexplicable  on  any  other  ground  than  that 
of  direct  supernatural  interposition,  it  excited  greater  aston- 
ishment among  those  who  beheld  it.  and  those  who  knew 
the  poor  sufferer,  than  any  other  healing  reported  in  the 
gospel  history.  No  room  was  left  for  the  supposition  that 
it  was  accomplished  by  the  control  which  a  stronger  na- 
ture wields  over  a  weaker :  nor  could  it  be.  attributed  to 
the  iufiuence  which  intense  excitements  exert  upon  the 
physical  frame;  as  there  was  scarcely  an  avenue  to  the 
mind  of  the  patient  open  to  human  approach.  The 
feeling  of  beholders  was  instinctive  and  general,  ''this  is 
the  finger  of  God:""  and  the  general  inquiry  arose:  "is  not 
this  the  Son  of  David?'"  The  casting  out  of  devils  was 
commonly  classed  as  the  highest  display  of  miraculous 
energy:  and  when  this  was  coupled  with  the  giving,  not 
the  restoration,  of  sight  and  hearing:  the  cui-e  took  rank 
in  the  estimation  o|  those  cognizant  of  the  sufferer,  as  sur- 
passing everthing  known  or  recorded,  and  eclipsing  all  the 
wonders  of  the  past. 

He  alone  who  made  man  at  the  first,  who  has  complete 
dominion  ovei-  spirit  as  well  as  matter,  the  Lord  of  the 
\Msihle  and  the  invisible,  was  competent  to  such  an 
achievement.  It  focussed  the  rays  of  tlie  divine  glory  upon 
the  Nazarene.  and  proclaimed  him  the  long  expected  Son  of 
David.  His  regal  descent  and  the  place  of  his  birth  were 
tacitly  ciiculated.  if  not  openly  acknowledged.  The  mighty 
work  was  none  the  less  convincing  on   account  of  the  ob- 


HISTORICAL   AND    DOCTHINAL.  169 

scurity  of  the  place  of  its  oceuiTeiice.  As  it  was,  the  cur- 
rent of  feeling'  was  setting  strongly  towards  a  i-eception 
of  Jesus  as  the  Messiah. 

The  unimpeachable  evidence  of  his  control  of  spiritual  as 
well  as  material  nmtters,  was  before  the  minds  of  all.  What- 
ever he  had  been  asked  to  accomplish,  he  had  accomplished 
without  failure  in  a  single  instance :  he  had  far  exceeded  the 
works  of  the  ancient  prophets,  as  in  this  last  crowning  act 
of  power;  a.ngels  and  devils  acknowledged  him  lord:  diseases 
and  death  owned  him  lord ;  all  the  powers  of  nature  bowed 
and  proclaimed  him  lord ;  even  the  grave  and  the  invisible 
opened,  and  saluted  him  lord ;  God  from  heaven  had  an- 
nounced him  lord ;  it  seemed  im])ossible  to  escape  the  con- 
clusion, that  he  was  the  great  prophet,  the  expected  de- 
liverei-.  His  wisdom,  his  unaffected  dignity,  his  stainless 
purity,  even  his  unworldiness  and  poverty,  all  confirmed 
the  claim.  The  Pharisees  felt  the  force  of  the  accumulated 
testimony,  anil  were  unable  to  deny  the  miracles,  or  rebut 
the  reasoning,  or  escape  the  conclusion.  In  this  condition 
of  enlightenment,  in  the  mid-da.y  pei-ception  of  the  truth, 
and  acknowledgement  of  the  premises:  rather  than  yield 
assent,  the^^  said :  '"This  man  doth  not  cast  out  devils  but 
by  Beelzebub,  the  prince  of  the  devils."  This  explanation  had 
been  suggested  before:  it  was  now  adopted  as  the  proper 
interpretation  of  the  mysterious  ministry  passing  before 
their  eyes.  This  was  not  the  mistake  of  honest  men  ;  but 
the  device  of  intense  malignity.  It  was  a  lie  coined  in  tiie 
mint  of  sin,  stamped  with  the  image  and  superscription  of 
the  prince  of  darkness,  and  current  among  the  enemies  of 
truth  and  light.  Adopted  by  the  sect,  it  placed  them  be- 
yond the  possibility  of  being  convinced  b3'  evidence,  as  they 
were  rejecting  the  evidence  of  Jehovah  himself. 

When  however  the  difficulties  of  their  logic  are  closely 
considered,  the  position  of  these  reasoners  is  more  easily 
understood.  With  the  pretentions  which  naturally  grew 
out  of  the  miracles  and  teachings  of  the  Nazareue,  it  was 
impossible,  for  those  who  did  not  re(;eive  him  as  divine,  to 
look  upon  him  as  a  good  man  or  a  true  prophet:  as  he 
was  ascribing  to  himself  the  honor  which  belongs  to  God 
onlv.    Were  he  not  a    messeno-er    from   heaven,   and   trulv 


170  SKETCHES    FROM    THE   LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

the  soil  of  (lod;  he  was  the  basest  of  iiiiposters;  too  vile 
to  be  described  by  any  word  in  human  language.  It  was 
absurd  to  esteem  him  a  crank,  or  a  self-deceived  impostor. 
This  slanderous  judgment  of  the  Pharisees  admitted  the 
reality  of  his  supernatural  qualifications,  and  the  actual 
and  indisputable  verity  of  his  miracles;  but  branded  him 
as  an  emissary  of  Satan,  and  a  deceiver  from  the  pit,  in 
the  guise  of  a  prophet.  This  alternative  continues  to  press 
the  rejecters  of  Jesus  Christ  in  the  nineteenth  ce^tur3^  If 
he  was  not  the  son  of  God :  he  was  not  a  good  man ;  and 
merits  the  motto,  which  Voltaire  chose  for  his  signet: 
"crush  the  wretch."    This  is  the  logical  result. 

That  Jesus  was  backed  by  some  mysterious  supernatural 
alliance,  some  unseen  aid,  whose  efficiency  was  all-perva.-^ive, 
and  almighty,  was  patent  to  all.  He  represented  this 
power  as  authorized  by  the  Father:  but  vested  in  himself: 
when  he  said:  "I  will;  be  thou  clean,""  "I  have  done  one 
work,  and  ye  all  marvel.""  He  claimed  the  wisdom  as  resi- 
dent in  himself:  when  he  said.  "Verily,  verily  /  say  unto 
you,"  He  claimed  infinite  truth  when  he  challenged  his 
enemies.  "Which  of  you  convinceth  me  of  sin."'  The  good 
and  the  lovely'  and  the  pure  is  always  the  true.  To  doubt 
him  and  to  withhold  confidence,  is  to  reject  him:  but  to 
say  that  all  this  power  and  wisdom  and  mercy  is  from 
Satan,  whose  every  throb  is  a  wail  and  a  gnashing  of  teeth, 
is  moral  suicide.  It  is  dashing  awaj^  the  only  persuasion, 
that  has  in  it  hope  and  light  and  comfort. 

Our  Lord  condes-'^ended  to  answer  this  malignant  slander; 
though  he  did  not'  commonly  notice  such  :  and  his  reply 
was  ('(mclusive.  "Every  house.'"  i.  e.,  every  family  "divided 
against  itself,  "  by  an  internal  feud,  in  which  one  party  is 
seeking  the  destruction  of  the  other,  "comes  to  desolation.'" 
It  is  like  a  man  cutting  off  his  own  limbs,  or  tearing- 
out  his  own  vitals.  A  kingdom  torn  by  inward  convulsion 
and  civil  war  can  never  stand.  This  is  a  national  suicide. 
So.  if  1  am  counted  as  being  in  collusion  with  Satan,  m^- 
whole  errand  being  to  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil;  there 
is  civil  war  in  his  camp;  and  enemies  within  will  destroy 
any  kingdom:  so  that  "his  kingdoTu  cannot  stand.'" 


HiSTOIUCAI.   AND   DOCTIUXAL.  171 

All  the  maladies  of  the  human  race,  consequent  upon  the 
introduction  of  sin,  were  classed  by  Jesus  as  the  works  of 
the  devil:  and  his  own  <ireat  object  was  to  rectify  these 
disordei's,  and  restore  the  condition  which  sin  had  destroyed. 
The  parties  were  in  the  most  direct  anta^'onism.  He  re- 
fused to  receive  the  testimony  of  the  demons  to  his  high 
personality,  not  sufferino'  them  to  bear  evidence  of  him  at 
all :  as  Paul  and  Silas  at  Philippi  were  <»i-ieved  to  seem  to 
owe  their  reception  to  the  recommendation  of  the  devil. 
And  then  it  was  evident  to  all  obsei-vers  that  the  demons 
obeyed  the  word  of  Christ  with  evident  reluctance;  they 
were  overpowered,  and  submitted  to  irresistible  control. 
Diseases  ^delded  instantly  to  his  simple  word  ;  demons  came 
out  indeed  at  his  command ;  but  with  frig'htful  demonstra- 
tions of  resistance:  nor  did  they  comply  instantly;  but  first 
exhausted  their  I'ag-e  upon  theii'  suffering-  victims.  They 
were  evidently  submitting  to  an  authority  which  they  hated, 
but  could  not  withstand.  To  pronounce  the  two  parties, 
Jesus  on  the  one  hand  and  the  demons  on  the  other,  allies 
and  cooperators,  was  an  absurdity*  and  a  crime. 

And  farther,  when  was  it  ever  heard  that  the  aid  of  Satan 
was  given  for  the  alleviation  of  suffering;  or  the  removal  of 
distress  The  great  enemy  of  God  and  man  is  malignant 
in  all  his  operations.  He  introduced  sin  and  all  our  woe 
by  the  seduction  of  our  first  parents;  and  his  efforts  tend 
all  the  time  to  the  diffusion  of  evil,  and  its  consequent  an- 
guish: and  he  grinds  his  teeth  at  the  spectacle  of  innocent 
happiness.  When  allowed  liberty'  to  show  his  hand,  as  we 
see  in  the  history  of  Job,  he  moved  by  pestilence,  lightning, 
and  destroying  wind ;  and  his  fury  was  directed  against  the 
righteous,  the  excellent  of  the  earth.  If  he  had  thus  per- 
mission now  to  disturb  and  distress  by  his  own  immediate 
intervention,  the  world  would  wear  a  quite  different  as- 
pect: and  human  life  would  be  a  (piite  different  experience 
from  what  it  is.  We  should  see  confusion  and  disorder 
even  among  the  stars  of  heaven,  were  his  power  suffered 
to  reach  to  them.  These  objectors  seemed  to  be  attribut- 
ing to  Beelzebub  an  independent  authority,  and  a  part- 
nership with    the  Almighty  in    the    administration  of   the 


172  SKETCHES   FROM    THE   LIFE    OF  JESl'S. 

world.     In  their  view  uothing  was  absurd  except  the  ad- 
mission of  the  claims  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 

In  these  words  of  the  Pharisees  there  was  concentrated  a 
scorn,  which  escapes  notice  in  the  English  version,  and  indeed 
in  all  versions.  Thej^  do  not  call  the  prince  of  darkness  hj 
his  true  name.  "Beelzebub,"  but  ''BeelzebuF*  the  god  of 
oi-dure  and  nastiness,  dung-god;  by  a  parody  depreciating 
not  the  devil,  but  his  partner  the  Nazarene.  To  this  un- 
translatable blaspheny  were  they  led  by  incorrigible  oppo- 
sition to  the  incarnation  of  divine  mercv:  thus  attributing: 
the  works  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  satanic  agency. 

Nothing  spoken  against  Jesus  Christ  ever  angered  him; 
the  most,  even  "all  manner  of  sin  and  blaspheny  he  would 
willing  forgive;  but  the  man,  who  attributes  the  mighty, 
work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  the  infernal  poweis,  puts  him- 
self beyond  the  i-each  of  the  saving  action  of  that  Holy 
Spirit.  His  power  is  needed  for  the  illununation  and  cleans- 
ing of  the  soul,  as  much  as  the  atoning  blood  is  needed  for 
its  iustification  before  (lod.  By  this  blaspllem^^  the  opposer 
puts  away  his  last,  his  only  hope;  and  must  forever  perish 
not  because  the  Vjlood  of  Christ  cannot  atone  for  his  guilt; 
not  because  there  is  a  lack  of  mercy  in  the  Godhead;  but 
because  of  the  despite  done  to  the  spirit  of  grace,  without 
whose  illumination  he  will  never  come  to  the  Savior,  whom 
(lod  has  "set  forth."  The  pain  which  this  speech  gave  the 
the  holy  son  of  God,  was  only  sorrow  on  their  own  ac- 
count. "He  who  blasphemes  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  hath 
never  foi-giveness;  b"t  is  in  "danger  of  eternal  sin;''  a  read- 
ing which  Griesbacli  pronounces  of  equal  authority  with 
the  eternal  •'damnation''  in  ^fk.  IH;  29.  Eternal  damna- 
tion is  eternal  sin.  "'He  endured  the  contradiction  of  sinners 
against  himself,"  and  wept  at  their  doom.  Love,  that 
could  not  be  angered,  mercy,  that  still  yearned  for  their 
salvation,  had  no  place  in  the  heart  of  a  devil;  we  are  look- 
ing upon  the  picture  of  the  perfect  one;  and  as  we  behold 
it,  we  cry  Holy,  Holy,  Holy.  The  sight  of  him  subdues  our 
hardness,  and  binds  us  to  him  in  everlasting  bonds. 

It  is  not  matter  of  wonder  that  the  poor  Jew  is  rejected 
of  heaven;  the  rejection  is  his  own  act,  involving  his 
children    for    succeeding   generations.     He    abandoned    hi» 


HISTORICAL    AND    DOCTRINAL.  178 

reason  and  his  God  at  the  same  time.  His  lelioion  has 
since  been  the  thinnest  cloak  of  hypocrisy.  Devout  Ro- 
manists have  been  seen :  devout  heathen  have  been  re- 
ported:  but  a  devout  Jew  is  not  to  be  found.  In  his  own 
reh^-ious  system,  he  has  no  confidence;  but  still  adheres  to 
it  with  the  pertinacity'  of  a  martyr.  There  is  no  demand 
for  understanding  or  reason  in  his  scheme.  His  scriptures 
are  unintelligible:  "'there  is  no  light  in  them;''  but  he 
treasures  them  with  the  utmost  veneration  for  their  age, 
and  their  connection  with  his  ancestry ;  but  his  study  is 
how  not  to  receive  them  intelligently.  His  .rules  of  inter- 
pretation are  fantastic ;  and  he  reads  them  by  the  light  of 
a  fog;  clinging  still  to  the  prescriptions  of  tradition,  and 
walking  in  the  ruts  of  antiquity.  He  is  sharp  in  all  his 
plans  for  money  getting;  his  race  in  every  generation  pro- 
duces some  of  the  world's  greatest  men  ;  but  in  his  religion 
the  blindness  of  his  fathers  still  enshrouds  him.  Oh  what 
a  rejection  of  Jesus  was  that  of  two  thousand  years  ago, 
that  has  carried  so  thick  a  veil  over  sixty  generations! 

To  return  to  the  poor  sufferer  of  this  piece  of  history, 
what  an  experience  was  it  to  be  set  down  at  once,  with  a 
full  perception  of  all  that  was  passing,  in  the  full  glory  of 
that  sun  which  has  been  worshipped  by  millions,  with 
senses  open  to  the  new  and  unconceived  beauty  of  the 
scene,  and  the  full-toned  music  of  nature!  Nothing  like  it 
ever  entered  into  the  experience  of  man,  since  the  day 
when  Adam  stepped  out  into  life  in  the  full  maturity  of 
his  powers,  and  took  in  the  glory  and  the  joy  of  all  with 
every  sense.  Jesus  had  won  a  living  trophy,  and  a  loud- 
voiced  witness.  This  poor  man's  soul  was  a  midnight 
chaos,  when  Jesus  stood  above  it,  and  said:  ''Let  there 
be  light,''  and  let  sound  enter  this  silence.  AVhen  light  and 
sound  entered  his  life,  probably  a  spiritual  light  also 
daw-ned  in  his  soul.  The  first  object  which  met  his  aston- 
ished gaze  was  Jesus  himself;  and  for  a  time  perhaps  no 
other  vision  could  divide  his  attention.  He  read  the  Savior 
in  the  man  Jesus ;  and  a  new  born  sense  springing  in  his 
soul  intensified  his  view.     He  that  could  deliver  him  from 


174  SKETCHES    FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESIS. 

his  prison,  could  also  deliver  him  from  ;dl  evil;  he  could 
emancipate  the  soul  as  well,  and  would  with  the  same  love 
iirnnt  the  t)reater  boon. 

What  a  picture  of  the  condition  of  humanity  is  afforded 
by  this  poor  slave  of  the  infernal  ])owersI  All  the  misfor- 
tunes attaching-  to  his  state  meet  in  the  spiritual  condi- 
tion of  man:  before  he  is  set  at  liberty  by  the  Son  of  (lod. 
He  is  blind  born:  and  not  only  blind,  but  deaf;  and  not 
only  blind  and  deaf  but  a  slave  of  evil.  In  the  instance  be- 
fore, it  was  a  case  of  misfortune  altogether  unattended  by 
blameworthiness  on  his  part;  in  the  case  of  erring  man, 
the  blindness  is  a  wilful  blindness;  the  want  of  hearing  and 
the  subjection  to  the  evil  powers  have  in  them  the  element 
of  guilt.  They  show  a  willing  and  a  guilt}'  surrender  to 
evil  control.  This  is  describing  man  as  a  great  sinner, 
which  everything  demonstrates  to  be  the  sad  fact.  Jesus 
Christ  is  a  Savior  fully  adequate  to  the  great  occasion; 
and  has  power  on  earth  not  onl}^  to  forgive  sins;  but  to 
set  free  the  most  hopeless  captive  of  Satan. 


%: 


HISTOFUCAL   AND    1K)('THINAI>.  175 


CHAPTER   XVII 


THE  GROWING  HATRED  AGAINST  THE  NAZARENE.   LUKE  XI] 


[The  reader  will  please  first  consult  T.uke  xi:    37-u.] 

The  evangelists  are  not  i-elating  the  acts  of  the  Jewish 
people;  but  tlie  doings  of  their  Lord  and  master.  In  the 
course  of  the  history,  a  view  is  obtained  incidentally  of  the 
feeling  towards  him.  Citizens  of  any  land,  moved  by  the 
same  interests  and  hopes,  agree  in  opinion  and  feeling. 
One  scene  taken  at  random  is  a  sample  of  the  attitude  of 
the  best  stratum  of  Jewish  society  toward  the  prophet  in 
their  midst.  A  Pharisee  had,  as  related  in  Luke  xi :  37, 
invited  our  Savior  to  dine ;  and  at  the  table  amid  marked 
civility  and  politeness,  the  irrepressible  hatred  and  mur- 
derous antipathy  became  visible,  which  were  taking  ])os- 
session  of  the  Jewish  heart.  The  character  of  the  inter- 
view may  be  gathered  from  the  exhortations  given  to  the 
crowd  outside,  when  he  left  the  house. 

A  countless  throng  consisting  of  many  ten  thousands 
were  awaiting  his  reappearance.  More  attended  him  than 
had  rushed  to  greet  Alexander  of  Macedon,  when  he  passed 
through  their  country ;  or  than  would  assemble  to  meet 
the  great  Augustus,  should  he  take  Syria  in  the  route  of 
an  imperial  progress.  The  people  trod  one  upon  another. 
There  have  l-een  instances  in  which  individuals  have  walked 
over  the  heads  of  men  closely  jammed  into  so  compact  a 
mass,  as  to  be  unable  to  prevent  or  I'esist  the  outrage. 
Such  was  the  press  at  this  time.  ()ui-  Savior,  in  I^uke  xii, 
is  giving  utterance  to  the  impressions  made  by  the  out- 
burst of  enmit}^  just  witnessed:  and  we  hear  in  his  words 
the  ver3'^  throbbings  of  his  human  heart. 

1.  First  of  all,  beware  of  the  leaven  of  the  Pharisees, 
which  is  hypocrisy.  As  the  leaven  permeates  the  whole 
lump,  and  sours  every  particle  of  the  mass;   so  hypocrisy 


176  SKETCHP]S   FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

pollutes  every  act.  permeates  the  whole  life,  and  renders 
the  whole  character  odious  to  God.  It  has  the  smell  of 
moral  corruption.  He  will  have  no  uiiited  sepulchres 
among-  his  accepted  servants;  full  within  of  dead  men's 
bones  and  all  uncleanness:  but  embellished  outwardly  with  a 
thin  coating  of  moi-ality.  Nothing'  do  men  detest  more  than 
dissimulation  practiced  on  themselves;  God  abhors  it  more 
decidedly.  Sincerity  and  truth  are  the  first  element  of  ac- 
ceptable worship,  and  of  acceptable  obedience.  Men  may 
be  deceived  by  the  profession  and  show  of  friendship;  God 
never.  Men  may  deceive  even  themselves;  they  can  nevei- 
deceive  God.  His  eyes  pierce  through  all  disguises,  and  to 
him  the  darkness  shineth  as  the  day.  Nothing  can  be 
dearei-  to  him  than  truth.  It  is  one  of  the  most  august 
and  glorious  of  his  perfections.  It  is  the  uncreated  radi- 
ance which  invests  his  mighty  throne,  and  blazes  in  over- 
powering splendor  from  his  seat.  "He  seeketh  such  to 
worship  him.  as  worship  in  spirit  and  in  Truth,"'  Without 
this  deep  seated  sincerity  worship  is  but  mockery,  and  pro- 
fessions are  but  flatteries  and  lies.  What  has  ever  roused 
his  wrath  more  speedily  than  falsehood,  or  brought  down 
more  instant  vengeance?  "First  of  all  beware,"'  not  in 
order  of  time  merely;  but  in  rank  of  importance,  "of 
hypocrisy."  True  religion  can  never  become  a  joy,  a  well 
of  water  springing  up  unto  everlasting  life;  it  can  never 
become  a  power,  new  creating  the  soul ;  it  cannot  even  exist 
apart  from  the  most  transparent  honesty  and  sincerity. 

2.  "And  I  say  imto  you,  my  friends:  Be  not  afraid  of 
them  that  kill  the  t>ody :  and  after  that  have  no  more  that 
they  can  do." 

This  was  no  uncalled  for  exhortation.  A  hatred  had  re- 
vealed itself,  that  would  be  satisfied  with  nothing  less  than 
blood.  The  vilest  crimes  never  stirred  such  rancor,  as  the 
loving  words  and"  loving  deeds  of  Jesus.  The  world  stands 
amazed  at  the  virulence  of  the  enmity  which  he  aroused. 
His  final  taking  off  was  no  sudden  act  dictated  by  the 
frenzy  of  the  moment:  it  was  the  bursting  out  of  a  long 
smouldering  fire.  His  life  had  been  attempted  in  Nazareth, 
so  cutting  was  the  sword  that  proceeded  out  of  his  mouth : 
A  like  attempt  was  made  in  Jerusalem,  on  the  occasion  of 


HISTORICAL    AND   DOCTRINAL.  177 

liin  second  visit :  stones  had  twice  afterwards  been  suddenly 
taken  to  destroy  him ;  and  tliese  assaults  show  an  incon- 
ceivable force  to  have  been  infused  into  his  words;  that 
they  were  shot  out  as  arrows  from  the  quiver  of  the  Al- 
mighty. The  I'ecord  of  every  conversation  conveyed  to  us 
.shows,  that  the  malignity  of  the  hearers  misinterpreted  and 
distorted  every  saying-  of  his :  and  found  subject  of  fresh 
dissatisfaction  in  every  utterance. 

His  disciples  saw  and  shrank  from  the  fiery  ordeal;  the^' 
had  trembled  at  the  display  of  venom  just  exhibited;  and 
needed  the  exhortation,  "be  not  afraid."  The  time  indeed 
came,  when  they  could  tread  Satan  under  their  feet,  and 
walk  upon  the  waves  of  hostile  passion  ;  but  that  elevation 
was  slowly  gained.  Jesus  was  an  example  of  all  that  was 
great  and  glorious.  The  threat  of  death,  instead  of  intimi- 
dating him,  kindled  a  new  lustre  in  his  eye. 

He  certainh^  was  not  comforting  his  disciples,  according 
to  our  idea  of  comfort,  as  they  followed  him  trembling, 
when  he  spoke  of  the  opposition  which  his  gospel  would 
encounter,  vs.  51st:  'Suppose  ye  that  1  am  come  to  give 
jjeace  on  earth?  I  tell  you,  nay;  but  rather  division:''  a 
war  shall  ensue,  whose  heat  shall  dissolve  the  closest  ties  of 
nature.  "Brother  shall  deliver  up  brother  to  death:  and 
children  shall  rise  up  against  their  parents,  and  cause  them 
to  be  put  to  death:'"  for  Jesus'  sake.  This  is  a  rage  before 
which  we  stand  appalled :  but  our  Lord  concealed  nothing ; 
but  was  foi-tifying  them  against  the  storm.  The  master 
met  worse  than  his  church  has  ever  encountered. 

What  other  religion  has  ever  aroused  such  enmity,  and 
''sailed  through  bloody  seas,''  and  ma.}'  have  yet  to  meet 
again  the  same  opposition? 

•'Fear  them  not  therefore.''  Watchful  eyes  are  over  you. 
Not  a  sparrow  falls  to  the  ground  without  your  Father's 
consent;  nor  a  hair  from  your  heads,  of  which  he  ordains 
and  keeps  the  number.  Brave  men  are  cowards  in  this 
war.  Petei'  was  a  brave  man ;  but  he  needed  a  higher 
quality  of  courage  for  this  contest.  Our  Lord  was  not 
falsely  representing  his  service  as  an  easy  task,  and  hold- 
ing out  illusive  hopes  of  victory  without  conflict  or  dam- 
age. This  will  be  a  war  with  mighty  sacrifice  of  life,  like 
-12 


178  SjKETCHK^   FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS, 

the  battles  which  have  decided  the  world's  destiuy;  but 
victory  will  be  worth  all  it  ma.y  cost.  The  cause  is  th& 
cause  of  truth  aud  righteousness,  and  of  God;  the  leader 
is  the  lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah :  the  battle  is  the  Lord's; 
the  triumph  certain. 

i\.  Another  kindred  exhortation  was  not  to  be  ashanietl 
of  him ;  but  to  confess  him  boldly  before  men.  In  the  com- 
])any  which  they  had  jast  left,  the  disciples  had  withered 
under  the  unutterable  scorn,  with  which  they  and  their 
master  had  been  regarded,  the  exhibitions  of  Avhicli  are 
more  grievous  to  be  borne  than  fires  of  Moloch.  Its  shafts^ 
are  as  piercing  as  the  sword  of  the  murderer'.  Scorn  re- 
duces its  victim  to  a  cipher;  condems  him  as  the  offscour- 
ing  of  the  earth;  and  tramples  him  in  the  dust.  Jesus  m 
still  the  rejected  one.  Self- righteousness  still  loathes  him  : 
he  is  the  scoff  of  the  iDrofane  jester;  and  every  man  is  by 
birth  a  mocker.  "This  child  is  set  for  a  sign  that  is  spoken 
against:"  and  still  is  the  scorn  of  the  world.  But  he  who 
is  now  ashamed  of  Jesus  w'ill  see  the  day  when  himself, 
completely  overwhelmed  by  shame,  will  call  on  rocks  and 
mountains  to  fall  on  him  and  hide  him. 

There  is  but  one  religion,  and  one  I'eligious  leader,  of 
wliom  men  are  ever  ashamed :  it  is  Christ  Jesus  and  his 
service.  The  heathen  is  not  ashamed  of  the  foulest  orgies, 
connected  with  the  worship  of  gods  repiesenting  man's 
basest  passions.  He  will  bow^  down  to  gods  of  gold  or 
silver  or  wood  or  stone,  or  to  infinitely  viler  objects:  and 
worship  them  with  rites  not  worthy  of  being  named:  and 
is  not  ashamed  of  his  god  or  of  the  worship.  The  Maho- 
metan will  perform  his  devotions  before  the  world:  dro]) 
upon  his  knees  at  the  hour  of  prayer  even  in  the  busy 
street ;  and  acknowledge  one  of  the  most  brutal  of  the 
human  race  as  the  prophet  of  God  :  and  go  his  way  to 
make  himself  as  brutal  if  possible:  and  do  it  all  without  a 
blush.  The  poor  Catholic  will  ])ractice  the  forms  of  his 
triKlition^openly  witliout  shame.  The  world  may  behold 
him  telling  his  beads  on  bended  knee,  ot-  abjectly  cowering 
before  ;i  ])SPn(lo-])riest :  and  his  fjire  is  not  covered  with  ;i 
blush. 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTIUNAL.  179 

Xo  votary  of  a  false  faith  however  absurd,  or  devotee  of  a 
worship  however  debasing,  feels  the  agony  of  shame.  Of  Jesus 
the  Holy,  the  True,  men  are  ashamed.  It  is  counted  a  great 
stoop  for  them  to  condescend  to  become  his  disciples.  In- 
deed they  cannot  enlist  under  him  without  breaking  through 
a  barrier  strong  as  that  which  bounds  the  sea.  None  would 
be  seen  prating  to  him ;  though  prayer  is  the  first  instinct 
of  their  spiritual  nature:  and  if  they  believe  in  him,  they 
hesitate  to  acknowledge  the  fact  to  their  intimate  asso- 
ciates. Shame  belongs  to  guilt.  In  the  presence  of  the 
Holy  Jesus,  devils  c-ower  with  shame :  human  shame  is  kin- 
dred to  theirs  in  its  origin :  it  is  the  abjectness  of  sin  in 
the  presence  of  the  holy  one.  The  first  step  towards  the 
recovery  of  the  soul  from  the  power  of  sin,  is  the  overcom- 
ing of  this  shame  of  the  great  leader  of  the  truth  and  the 
right.  Jesus  is  the  captain  of  those  who  overcome  the 
world,  and  are  superior  to  its  seductions. 

The  church  of  Christ  is  to  expect  persecution,  and  to 
think  the  fiery  trial  no  strange  thing;  but  the  great  Savior 
is  never  nearer  to  his  people,  than  when  they  are  suffering 
for  his  sake.  He  was  with  the  three  Hebrew  children  in 
Nebuchadnezzar's  furnace,  to  deliver  them;  that  the  smell 
of  fire  was  not  on  their  garments.  He  has  been  in  every 
fire  kindled  against  them  since.  In  the  reign  of  the  bloody 
Mary,  Thomas  Bilney,  a  most  zealous  Christian  but  a  man 
of  an  exceedingly  weak  and  timid  character,  was  arrested 
and  forced  to  recant.  After  a  3'ear  of  inconsolable  anguish, 
he  surrendered  himself  to  be  burned.  His  friends,  fearful 
for  his  constancy  still,  agreed  with  him,  that  if  he  found 
himself  able  to  endure  the  fiame,  he  should  give  them  a 
sign  to  that  effect,  by  raising  his  hand  while  he  yet  had 
the  power.  After  waiting  some  time,  he  gave  them  the 
signal  of  victory,  by  waving  his  hand  three  times  above 
his  head.  The  savior  of  the  three  Hebrews  was  with  him  in 
the  fire. 

But  one  saint  has  been  dehvered  from  the  lions,  Daniel 
who  slept  calmly  with  a  lion  pillow  under  his  head.  Hun- 
dreds of  thousands  have  l)een  cast  to  the  lions;  but  Dan- 
iel's savior  has  pillowed  their  souls  in  every  case.  Each 
stab  at  his  followers  strikes  the  bosom  of  the  Savior  and 


180  ske'R'Hp:s  fhom  the  eife  of  jesus. 

pieices  hits  lieart :  sorrow  endured  for  liiiu  shall  be  repaid 
by  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away.  It  is  to  be 
feai-ed,  that  the  ehiireh  of  the  ])re8ent  is  losing*  its  dis- 
tinction :  and  meets  from  the  world  a  far  more  tolerant 
treatment  than  the  great  leader  met.  The  world  has  by  no 
means  lost  its  hostility:  if  the  manner  of  its  exhibition  is 
A'aried. 

4.  Take  heed  and  beware  of  covetousness.  An  episode 
is  introduced  by  an  interruption  from  one  in  the  assem- 
bly, appealing  to  Jesus  against  his  own  brother,  unwilling 
to  divide  an  inheritance  fairly.  It  furnishes  an  example  of 
the  great  teacher's  ability  to  make  every  occurrence  subserv- 
ient to  his  discourse.  His  followers  are  not  to  be  engrossed 
in  the  pursuit  of  worldly  good.  They  are  not  to  seek  the 
highest  ])laces  and  the  best  things  in  the  two  worlds.  For 
a  stimulus  to  their  faith,  they  are  dii'ected  to  consider  the 
ravens  and  the  lilies.  The  ravens  thrive:  while  the  farmer 
defends  his  fields  against  them,  and  kills  them  for  robbing 
him.  if  he  can;  but  God  puts  in  a  crop  for  them  evei-y  year 
of  wild  fruits,  berries  and  nuts.  "God  feedeth  them.'"  (iod 
clothes  the  lilies,  and  paints  their  adornments  with  colors, 
that  Solomon  might  envy,  but  could  not  attain.  So  he 
will  feed  and  clothe  his  followers;  but  the  curse  upon  man 
is.  that  they  nmstw^ork  to  obtain  their  needed  supplies.  Seek 
not  earthly  good  too  eagerly.  God  may  in  some  exceptional 
cases  call  his  servants  to  fill  seats  of  power,  or  manage 
hoards  of  wealth,  like  Joseph  and  Daniel:  but  only  such 
as  would  surrender  their  ]30Ssessions  and  honors  instantly 
like  Daniel;  rather  than  be  in  a  position  which  would  be- 
tray them  into  any  step  dishonoring  to  their  God. 

5.  The  scene  in  the  house  just  left  brought  vividly  be- 
fore the  mind  of  Jesus  his  approaching  sufferings  and 
death.  '"But  I  have  a  ba])tism  to  be  baptised  with;  and 
how  am  1  straitened  till  it  be  accomplished  I"  The  deadly 
enmity  just  exhibited  brought  the  future  trials  home  to 
his  hunmn  comprehension  with  a  realizing  force.  He  almost 
felt  the  breath  of  the  traitor's  kiss,  the  rude  grasp  of  the 
soldiers,  and  the  indignities,  by  whicli  the  world  would  ex- 
press its  hatred.  Some  of  the  party  at  the  dinner  i)ossibly 
were  to  be  active  ])artici])ants  in  the  coming  tragedy. 


histoi{u:al  and  docthinat..  181 

It  is  impossible  to  frame  a  rational  interpretation  of  the 
hatred  aroused  by  him.  Its  commencement  cannot  be  de- 
termined, more  than  the  causes  which  produced  it.  It  seems 
to  have  been  instinctive  and  universal.  Cain  had  no  real 
cause  of  complaint  against  Abel:  his  dissatisfaction  should 
have  been  with  the  decision  of  Jehovah  against  himself  J 
yet  his  hatred  of  his  brother  was  more  dii-e,  than  it  could 
have  been  from  any  actual  blameworthiness  of  Abel.  Jesus 
was  the  favorite  of  heaven,  and  the  Son  of  God ;  and 
therefore  they  slew  him.  It  is  not  needful  to  in(]uire  after 
a  cause;  "they  hated  him  without  a  cause.'"  His  ques- 
tion, "for  which  of  these  works  do  ye  stone  me?''  could 
not  be  answered.  No  record  remains  of  the  words  uttered 
at  the  table;  but  we  know  from  our  Lord's  replies  that 
the  attack  had  been  dire.  The  host,  when  he  invited  him, 
had  probably  no  deliberate  intention  of  entrapping-  his 
guest;  the  other  visitors  probably  attended  rather  out  of 
respect  and  honor  to  the  great  teacher;  but  the\'  found 
themselves  unintentionally  betra^'ed  into  an  exhibition  of 
that  spontaneous  enmity  by  which  human  nature  is  gen- 
erally actuated  against  the  Christ,  which  here  broke  over 
all  the  rules  of  decorum,  and  swept  the  company  off  their 
feet.  A  reprovei',  whose  word  is  justified  by  the  sanction 
of  conscience,  and  sustained  by  the  demonstration  of 
heaven's  approval,  seems  to  the  man  in  eri-or,  as  Elijah 
appeared  to  the  eyes  of  Ahab;  "hast  thou  found  me,  O 
mine  enemy?"  Words  against  Jesus  had  been  uttered,  and 
words  unpardonable  because  against  the  Holy  (Ihost ;  the 
speaker  would   never  beg  pardon  for  them. 

The  one  great  object  of  the  incarnation  of  the  Sou  of 
God  was  to  atone  by  death  for  the  sins  of  the  world :  and 
this  engrossed  his  thoughts  continually.  When  called  upon 
for  a  sign,  his  constant  reply  was  a  reference  to  his  death 
and  resurrection.  The  only  subject  of  discourse  upon  the 
Mount  of  Transfiguration  was  his  decease.  His  thoughts 
were  full  of  it:  the  view  of  its  approach  "straitened"  him: 
held  him  as  a  sickness  holds  a  patient.  The  supposition  is 
unavoidable,  that  this  Avas  the  subject  of  his  pi-ayers  pro- 
tracted through  nights  of  watching,  when  sleep  forsook  his 


182  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

eyes;  and  there  was  none  to  whom  he  conld  unbosom  him- 
self. exce])t  the  eternal  Father.  The  time  of  his  suffer- 
ings was  the  period  of  supreme  importance  in  the  eter- 
nities: and  upon  that  brief  space  pivoted  the  divine 
ndministi-ation    from    the    creation    onward. 

When  this  earth  sprang'  into  its  place  among  the  worlds, 
and  God  was  fashioning  it  for  human  habitation,  then 
('hrist  was  by  him  ''rejoicing  in  the  habitable  parts  of  the 
earth;  and  his  delighLS  were  with  the  sons  of  men.*'  He 
loved  the  very  earth  on  which  the^^  were  to  live,  and  the 
ground  they  would  tread.  ".'When  the  morning  stars  sang 
together,  and  all  the  sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy,"  it  was 
in  anticipation  of  his  appearance  on  this  earth,  himself 
leading  the  joy.  Often  before  his  incarnation,  he  assumed 
the  semblance  of  a  human  form;  and  was  with  his  people. 
''In  all  their  affliction,  he  was  afflicted;  in  his  love  and  in 
his  i)ity  he  redeemed  them  ;  and  he  bare  them,  and  carried 
them  all  the  da3's  of  old."  His  sympathy  was  always  with 
us.  and  the  yearnings  of  his  heart.  Jesus  felt  the  time  rush- 
ing on,  for  which  he  had  waited;  and  for  which  ages  had 
been  preparing. 

This  was  not  a  contest  of  the  Jews  merely  against  him : 
the  hiss  of  the  old  serpent  of  Eden,  whose  head  he  was  to 
crush,  was  in  the  clamor.  This  earth  was  the  battle  ground 
of  the  universe;  and  the  trumpet  that  marshaled  the  forces 
of  the  pit,  was  uttering  its  battle  call.  The  great  conflict 
was  fast  approaching.  "For  every  battle  of  the  warrior  is 
with  confused  noise,*  and  garments  rolled  in  blood;  but  this 
shall  be  with  burning  and  fuel  of  fire.'"  The  burning  took 
place  on  Galvary;  the  lamb  of  sacrifice  was  the  fuel  of  tlie 
fire.  Jesus  conquers  men,  not  by  destroying  them ;  but  by 
dying  for  them  and  in  their  behalf.  Thus  he  crushes  the 
head  of  Satan. 

6.  The  signs  of  the  times  then  ]n-esent  were  as  easily 
read  as  the  ordinary'  signs  of  the  sky.  A's.  ~)4,  55,  50. 
The  time  of  Messiah's  advent  had  been  so  definitely  fixed 
by  prophecy,  as  not  to  be  innocently  mistaken.  The  nation 
evinced  their  conviction  that  it  had  come,  by  their  readi- 
ness to  fall  in  with  the  false  Messiahs  of  the  succeeding 
age.    Not  one  a]»peared,  who  <lid  not  agitate  the  heart  of 


HISTORICAL    AM)   DOrTUINAL.  183 

tlie  people,  and  make  their  pulses  throb:  thoutih  not  one 
made  a  stand,  to  which  they  could  ^'athei'. 

The  last  Old  Testament  prophet  announced  his  next  suc- 
<-essor.  as  the  Elijah,  the  immediate  precursor  of  the  man 
of  destiny.  One  almost  P^lijah's  self  reproduced  had  come. 
John  was  miraculously  born  a  prophet.  Not  Moses  nor 
Elias  were  more  unquestionably  prophets  sent  of  God.  He 
needed  no  mii-acle  to  accredit  him.  It  was  universally  ad- 
mitted even  by  enemies  that  he  bore  witness  to  Jesus  as 
the  Messiah.  His  speedy  death  emphasized  his  testimony. 
He  was  not  permitted  to  add  another  word,  as  it  were,  to 
those,  by  which  he  had  designated  the  Nazarene.  He  uttered 
the  voice  and  died.  But  Jesus  had  greater  witness  than 
that  of  John.  The  Father's  was  given  and  repeated  daily 
through  the  works.  The  smallest  real  miracle  is  as  perfect 
an  authentication  of  a  message  from  heaven,  as  the  most 
astounding- 
Miracles  designate  epochs,  and  mark  periods  which  God 
Avould  signalize  as  the  most  important  in  earth's  history. 
Upon  no  pei'iod  has  the  stamp  of  the  divine  behold  been 
more  luminously  placed ;  than  upon  the  time  of  the  minis- 
try of  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  By  these  miracles  God  is  sa}'- 
ing  to  all  ages:  "behold  the  Lamb  of  God."  The  evidence 
that  Jesus  was  sent  of  God,  was  multiplied  a  thousand  fold 
in  the  most  striking  displays  of  helj)  to  the  needy  and  suf- 
fering: for  such  is  the  mission  of  the  Savior:  and  such  the 
works  that  most  suitably  accredit  hiuL  To  disbelieve  in 
the  face  of  such  evidence,  and  resist  such  accumulated 
proofs,  shows  a  deadly  hatred  of  the  truth.  Their  crim- 
inalitj  was  greater  than  could  result  from  the  accumu- 
lated murdei'ing  of  all  the  prophets,  from  the  time  of  Abel 
to  the  time  of  Zaccharias,  who  perished  between  the  altar 
and  the  temple.  It  should  all  be  required  of  that  genera- 
tion. 

The  discourse  was  completed  by  an  individual  application. 
Each  man  is  represented  as  in  the  power  of  an  adversary, 
Avho  has  a  legal  claim,  which  cannot  fail  of  being  sustained 
and  enforced  b}-  the  court,  to  which  both  complainant  and 
defendant  are  hastening  under  warrant.  A  man  conscious 
ol  the  justice  of  the  claim  against  him.  and  aware  of  the 


182  SKETCHES  FROM   THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

eyes:  and  there  was  none  to  whom  he  could  unbosom  him- 
self. exce])t  the  eternal  Father.  The  time  of  his  suffer- 
ings was  the  period  of  supreme  importance  in  the  eter- 
nities: and  upon  that  brief  space  pivoted  tlie  divine 
administration    from    tlie    creation    onward. 

Wlien  this  earth  spranji-  iuto  its  place  among  the  worlds, 
and  God  was  fashioning  it  for  human  habitation,  then 
Christ  was  by  him  "rejoicing-  in  the  habitable  parts  of  the 
earth;  and  his  delighus  were  with  the  sons  of  men."  He 
loved  the  vei-y  earth  on  which  they  were  to  live,  and  the 
ground  they  would  tread.  \'When  the  morning  stars  sang 
togethei",  and  all  the  sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy,"  it  was 
in  anticipation  of  his  appearance  on  this  earth,  himself 
leading  the  joy.  Often  before  his  incarnation,  he  assumed 
the  semblance  of  a  human  form ;  and  was  with  his  people. 
''In  all  their  affliction,  he  was  afflicted;  in  his  love  and  in 
his  ])ity  he  redeemed  them:  and  he  bare  them,  and  carried 
them  all  the  da^'S  of  old.""  His  sympathy  was  always  with 
us.  and  the  yearnings  of  his  heart.  Jesus  felt  the  time  rush- 
ing on,  for  which  he  had  waited :  and  for  which  ages  had 
been  jueparing. 

This  was  not  a  contest  of  the  Jews  merely  against  him  : 
the  hiss  of  the  old  serpent  of  Eden,  whose  head  he  was  to 
crush,  was  in  the  clamor.  This  earth  was  the  battle  ground 
of  the  universe:  and  the  trumpet  that  marshaled  the  forces 
of  the  pit,  was  uttering  its  battle  call.  The  great  (conflict 
was  fast  approaching.  "I'or  every  battle  of  the  warrior  is 
with  confused  noisc;  and  garments  rolled  in  blood:  but  this 
shall  be  with  burning  and  fuel  of  fire.""  The  burning  took 
])lace  on  (Calvary;  the  lamb  of  sacrifice  was  the  fuel  of  the 
fii-e.  Jesus  conquers  men.  not  by  destroying  them ;  but  by 
dying  for  them  and  in  their  behalf.  Thus  he  crushes  the 
head  of  Satan. 

6.  The  signs  of  the  times  then  present  were  as  easily 
read  as  the  ordinary  signs  of  the  sky.  A's.  54,  55,  50. 
The  time  of  Messiah's  advent  had  been  so  definitely  fixed 
by  prophecy,  as  not  to  be  innocently  mistaken.  The  nation 
evinced  their  conviction  that  it  had  come,  by  their  readi- 
ness to  fall  in  with  the  false  Messiahs  of  the  succeeding 
age.    Not  one  a]>])eared.  who  did  not  agitate  the  heart  of 


HISTORICAL   AM)   DOCTIUNAL.  183 

the  people,  and  make  tlieir  ])ulses  throb:   thoujih  not   one 
made  a  stand,  to  whicli  they  conhl  _i>,-ather. 

The  last  Old  Testament  prophet  announced  his  next  suc- 
<*essor.  as  the  Elijah,  the  immediate  precursor  of  the  man 
of  destiny-.  One  almost  Elijah's  self  reproduced  had  come. 
John  was  miraculously  born  a  projihet.  Not  Moses  nor 
Elias  were  moie  unquestionably  prophets  sent  of  (lod.  He 
needed  no  miiacle  to  accredit  him.  It  was  universally  ad- 
mitted even  by  enemies  that  he  bore  witness  to  Jesus  as 
the  Messiah.  His  speedy  death  em])liasized  his  testimony. 
He  was  not  permitted  to  add  another  word,  as  it  were,  to 
those,  by  which  he  had  desig-nated  the  Xazarene.  He  uttered 
the  voice  and  died.  But  Jesus  had  greater  witness  than 
that  of  John.  The  Father's  was  given  and  repeated  daily 
through  the  works.  The  smallest  real  miracle  is  as  perfect 
an  authentication  of  a  message  from  heaven,  as  the  most 
astounding 

Miracles  designate  epochs,  and  mark  periods  which  (iod 
Avould  signalize  as  the  most  important  in  earth's  history. 
Upon  no  period  has  the  stamp  of  the  divine  behold  been 
more  luminously  placed ;  than  upon  the  time  of  the  minis- 
try of  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  By  these  miracles  God  is  say- 
ing to  all  ages:  ''behold  the  Lamb  of  God."  The  evidence 
that  Jesus  was  sent  of  God,  was  multiplied  a  thousand  fold 
in  the  most  striking  dis])lays  of  helj)  to  the  needy  and  suf- 
fering: for  such  is  the  mission  of  the  Savior:  and  such  the 
works  that  most  suitably  accredit  him.  To  disbelieve  in 
the  face  of  such  evidence,  and  resist  such  accumulated 
proofs,  shows  a  deadly  hatred  of  the  truth.  Their  crim- 
inalitA'  was  greater  than  could  result  from  the  accumu- 
lated murdering  of  all  the  proiJiets,  from  the  time  of  Abel 
to  the  tune  of  Zaccharias,  wlio  perished  between  the  altar 
and  the  temple.  It  should  all  be  required  of  that  genera- 
tion. 

The  discourse  Avas  completed  by  an  individual  application. 
Each  man  is  represented  as  in  the  power  of  an  adversai-y, 
who  has  a  legal  claim,  which  cannot  fail  of  being  sustained 
and  enforced  by  the  court,  to  which  both  complainant  and 
defendant  are  hastening  under  warrant.  A  man  conscious 
of  the  justice  of  the  claim  against  him.  and   aware  of  the 


184  sKhyrcHEs  from  the  life  of  jesus. 

inevitable  issue,  should  the  case  come  to  trial,  would  de- 
vote himself  with  all  zeal  to  some  friendly  arrangement 
with  the  complainant,  by  which  the  matter  could  be  settled 
out  of  court,  (xod  is  the  adversary  of  the  parable;  maib 
the  defendant;  death  the  sheriff;  and  hell  the  prison. 
Eternal  interests  depend  on  the  decision  of  the  hour. 

This  discourse  seems  to  have  been  the  expression  of  the 
moment,  sugg-ested  by  the  incidents  of  the  dinner  table  just 
left ;  and  the  visit  shows  how  the  leaven  of  opposition  was- 
working  through  Jewish  society.  In  this  case  politeness^ 
thi'ew  aside  its  niask :  kindliness  and  breeding  were  forgot- 
ten :  forms  were  discarded ;  and  the  veil  slipped  from  the- 
hearts  of  the  company  and  the.v  found  themselves  trans- 
ported into  open  insult,  where  they  had  intended  civility. 
Jesus  was  ever  open  as  the  day:  but  in  the  human  heart 
there  is  an  inborn  opposition  to  him;  and  his  entertainers 
were  undoubtedly  astonished  to  find  themselves  transformed 
into  accusers  and  revilers.  "He  could  not  be  hid;"  every 
look,  every  word  betrayed  him;  and  those,  who  could  not 
receive  him  in  his  real  character,  felt  themselves  aroused  to 
a  fur}^  of  contradiction  sur])rising  themselves.  The  feelings 
awakened  in  our  Lord  attest  his  perfect  humanity ;  the 
very  suggestions  and  sympathies  of  a  sinless  humanity 
were  working  in  him  ;  while  the  tone  of  Godhead  is  strangely 
audible  throughout. 

These  Israelites,  on  account  of  their  superlative  clannish- 
ness,  were  more  harmonious  and  concurrent  in  their  meas- 
ures than  othei'  nations.  What  was  done  by  them  was 
done  unanimously.  '  O])inions  and  feelings  were  communi- 
cated in  their  great  assemblies  thrice  each  year.  He  who 
dissented  had  to  breast  an  unusual  tide  of  opposition.  It 
is  .easily  seen  from  this  narrative,  how  the  leaven  of  en- 
mity against  the  Nazarene  was  slowly  and  sureh'  pervading- 
the  mass.  In  this  company  there  was  no  dissent:  all  in- 
stinctively arrayed  themselves  against  him:  and  unques- 
tionably expressed  the  common  conviction  of  their  nation. 
They  were  in  such  rebellion  against  every  word  of  his 
mouth,  against  evei-y  look  of  his  eyes,  evei*y  movement, 
that  tiieir  dislike  could  not  be  smothered  by  the  customs 
of  etiquette,  <3r  be  concealed  by  silen<'e.  They  reflected  the 
}»()pular  sentiment. 


HI8TORirAL   AND    DOCTRINAL.  185 


CHAPTI^R  XVIII. 


THE  TRANSFIGURATION, 


The  first  thou«»ht  sug-jLi'ested  by  this  account  is  the  utter 
unreliability  of  tradition,  which  has  fixed  on  Mount  Tabor 
as  the  locality-  of  this  sublime  manifestation.  The  summit 
bears  the  remains  of  fortifications,  and  other  sti'uctures, 
antedatino'  the  age  of  Jesus  by  many  centuries ;  and  there- 
fore could  not  have  been  the  selected  spot.  ''If  thou  lift 
up  thy  tool  upon  it,  then  thou  hast  defiled  it"  was  true  of 
temple  and  altars  dedicated  to  Jehovah :  and  of  the  place 
chosen  for  this  brief  display  of  the  heavenly  g'lor3\  It  was 
rather  some  amphitheatre  in  the  bosom  of  the  Hernion 
range,  shut  out  from  all  observation  ;  unmarked  by  human 
touch,  but  left  as  God  had  fashioned  it,  that  can  thus 
never  be  identified. 

As  great  confidence  can  be  placed  ni  the  identification  of 
the  true  cross,  and  the  handkerchief  of  St.  Veronica,  as  in 
the  tradition  which  fixes  any  of  the  holy  places.  The  cave 
of  the  nativity  with  an  entrance  slo]jing  nearly  45  degrees, 
and  church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  are  both  impossible  locali- 
ties :  as  also  is  Mount  Tabor.  If  there  is  any  mountain  in 
the  holy  land,  where  the  transfiguration  did  not  occur,  that 
spot  is  Mount  Tabor.  The  same  wisdom,  that  concealed 
the  sepulchre  of  Moses  "that  no  man  knoweth  of  it  unto 
this  day."  has  ordered,  that  no  trace  or  vestige  should 
remain,  where  idolatry  can  erect  its  shrine,  and  externalism 
make  its  pilgrimage. 

"A  sign  from  heaven"  had  been  loudly  and  repeatedly 
demanded  ;  and  was  about  to  be  vouchsafed :  but  not  to 
the  curious  and  caviling  crowd ;  not  even  to  all  of  the 
twelve  apostles.  (Jur  Lord  was  impatient  of  the  presence 
of  witnesses;  and  tolerated  only  the  smallest  number  neces- 
sary to  establish  the  facts.     ''Out  of    the  mouth  of  two  or 


186  sKK'i't  iii;s  iiMtM    riiK  liii:  ok  .iksis. 

tlirrc  witnesses  slinll  everv  woi'd  Ih'  <'stnl)lisli('(l.'"  Coiiiinu" 
<;(Miei;il  ions  iiic  to  reeeiN'e  1 1ll'  jicconni  "not  lijivin^"  seon  :" 
t  lierel'oi'e  hnt  llil"(>«'  were  |)ri\ile^e(l  1o  behold:  and  tluee 
were  enoM^li  to  certilV.  His  ini<2,li(iesl  wonders  were  wit- 
nessed li_\  lew  speelntDis :  his  \\;dk  upon  the  Sen  of  (JmH- 
lee  ,'is  upon  n  le\'el  lloor  in  the  midst  of  rollin«i'  wnvrs 
;ind  jiniiry  winds:  ;ind  his  nseension  to  hciivcn  were  seen 
liv  the  tw(>lve  onlv :  nnd  this  (>.\ceedin^'  ;ilory.  the  onlv 
scene  of  nne.Mi't  hly  nnd  helittinii'  s|)len(h)r  in  his  career,  had 
the  \ery  fewest    l)ehohlei's. 

This  1  ransljenrat  ion  was  consecpieni  upon  the  a\"owal  li.v 
his  dicipies  of  their  faith  in  him  as  the  son  of  (Jod.  As 
I  hcv  had  been  passinjz'  amon«»"  th(>  villaiics  of  Ccsareji 
IMiilippi.  he  had  l»een  ask)i)«i,"  them  all  day  these  (]Ucstions: 
and  at  last  in  some  setpiestcred  s]»ot,  sni'rounded  by  the 
twelve,  after  prayer  marking'  the  occasion  as  one  of  the 
most  decid(>(l  solemnity,  and  the  very  crisis  of  his  ministry 
in  his  own  estimation,  he  rcjus'ited  them:  and  demanded  of 
each  of  them  imli\i(lnally  and  personally  in  the  most 
pointed  way  possibliv  "Whom  do  men  say  that  I  ani?" 
and  'whom  do  ye  say  thai  I  the  son  of  man  am".*"  A 
more  im|)ortant  inipiiry  was  nex'ei-  made:  a  subject  of 
deeper  interest    was  never  broached. 

•\\'hat  1  hinU  ye  of  Christ ""  is  the  (piei-y  w  liich,  accoi'dinii'  to 
the  answer  retnrnivl,  will  settle  the  eterujd  destiny  of  men. 
The  apostles  had  had  abundant  tinu>  to  nniturt^  a  deliber- 
at<'  opinion  of  him.  They  had  seen,  and  heard,  and  been 
adnntted  (>\-en  to  l.'ie  j)rivacy  of  his  pra.x'ers.  The  V(mI  had 
been  drawn  completely  asidefrom  his  mysteiions  pei'sonalit  y: 
on  the  i-ecoe-nilion  of  which  our  salvation  depends.  Il«>  was 
Iranspai-ent  as  the  liiiht.  and  had  made  no  conc(»alment 
with  them.  It  was  time  for  him  to  demand  an  a\'owal  of 
faith;  and  this  he  did.  makinii'  it  a  |)ersonal  examination 
to   each. 

To  his  first  ipiestion  "Whom  do  men  say  tliat  I  am".'" 
they  replied  thai  none  said  that  he  was  the(^hrist.  Not- 
w  It  list  andiuii'  the  voice  from  heaviMi,  tlu^  witness  of  th«' 
r>aptist.  and  the  testimony  of  the  works,  none  seemed  to 
havi'  entiM-tained  t  In*  oi)ini(jn.  that  Jesus  of  \a/.arelli  was 
the    Nb^ssiah.  and    a    di\int>    personaiic     He    was  the   xery 


fjis'iouuAh  AM)  !»()(  ria.\  \r..  1 'sT 

oppoHito  of  th<'  f)iH',  whom  tlif;  nation  «'X}M'(;t«'f|.  On  i  lio 
f'ontrarv  Horne  khv  that  thou  ai-t  .John  the  Ba])t  JHt ,  ot  h«'i'H 
EliaK,  otherK  Jerf'inifjH  or  ono  of  \\\<'  old  prophetH  liHon  from 
t}i<;  (]<"f\<].  They  wan;  h^okiii*;-  fr;r  the  peMSfHuil  JippeJiran"'- 
of  lOlias  fjH"'Ha,y  the  Sci'ibe'K."  The  return  of  .lerfjmisiK  person- 
silly  WHH  expeetefl.  without  wari-nnf  liowcvr-r  frf)iii  iIm- 
sciipt uies,  tr)  i'eve*fil  tlie  hiding  plaee  <jf  the  ark  with  itw 
holy  eontentK:  whieli  it  was  su|»pose(|  thnt  lie  had  eon- 
eealed  at   the  first  destruetion  ot  JcruKalem. 

We  <rim]  from  tliis  reply  n  de^^rrje  of  lioht  to  ;iid  our  eon- 
eeption  of  the  nppearfinee  of  JesuH.  .loliii,  VMuh  and  .ler<'- 
miaK  had  all  pjisned  into  the  ^rave.  There  wan  HOinethin^ 
in  the  ayjpen ranee  of  thf;  Xazai-en*'.  that  siif^'jieHted  timt  he 
wan  some  holy  ]»e)-Hon  returned  from  the  spirit  world.  The 
<rr<)iis  animaliHin,  whieh  marks  us  ns  of  kin  to  the  Iniites. 
was  absent:  and  the  delieaey,  refinement  find  spiiit unlitv 
of  his  eounte-nanee  nnd  frnnie.  etherialized  ns  it  wr-r*-  by 
the  punfieatif)n  of  the  {jirave,  Htamy)ed  him  ns  e-ntir^'ly 
above  the  reneh  of  earnality  nnd  eorruption.  The  \xn\y 
was  sei'vant  and  not  mnstei-:  and  was  but  a  transpfii'-nt 
Hcreen  of  a  eelestial  indweller.  the  ready  instrument  of  his 
nieivy.  The  solemnity  of  another  world  illuminn>ted  his 
features;  and  the-  invisible  was  to  him  nion*  real  nwd  eom- 
rnandinji,-  than  the  material  and  present.  IHh  eommunion 
was  with  the  unseen.  Ilielies,  honors  and  j>leasuies  w<'re  to 
him  as  small  as  tliey  will  se^'m  to  us  in  the  nrtieU'  of 
death.  A  heavenly  atmosphere  was  at>out  him:  nnd  to  be- 
lieve liim  a  fraud  or  an  imposte-r  was  utteil\'  impossibh; 
His  f)ody  like  our  own  was  made  of  the  dust  c)f  the  earth: 
V>ut  he  wns  the  "seeond  man' direr;t  from  the  hand  of^iod, 
nnfallen,  undefaeed.  lOvil  had  nevei'  trjuehed  him  tr)  defiN*. 
Ap]>etite  nevei-  eonti'olled  him:  passions  never  im|>elled 
liini.  lie  was  "separate  from  sinners."'  fie  was  not  of  the 
world.  It  is  not  matter  of  wonder  that  a  superstitious 
]jeople,  believinji'  in  the  possibility  of  a  return  from  the 
other  world,  should  say  of  Jesus:  "he  is  one  oi  the  old 
pi-oj>hets  ri.sen  a^ain." 

To  the  <|uestion.  "But  whom  say  ye  that  I  am.'"'  I'eter 
hastened  to  respond :  "Thou  ai-t  the  Christ,  the  son  of 
the  h'ving  Or^d."*    flod  lind  beeome  to  him  a  great  reality. 


188  SKETCHES   FROM   THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

TJie  companionship  of  the  Nazarene  deepened,  and  intensi- 
fied the  religious  convictions  of  all  associated  with  him. 
This  expression  of  belief  commanded  assent  from  each,  in- 
dividually speaking  for  himself:  Judas  not  excepted,  who 
always  went  with  the  majority,  and  voted  for  whatever 
carried ;  and  who  was  also  intellectually  convinced.  By  ap- 
proval of  this  reply  .Tesus  proclaimed  himself  to  be  the 
Christ,  the  son  of  the  living  God :  and  pronounced  his 
solemn  blessing  upon  Peter:  ':For  flesh  and  blood  hath  not 
revealed  it  to  thee;  but  my  father  which  is  in  heaven."' 

These  words  impart  to  us  the  great  truth:  that  no  man 
can  believe  in  his  heart  that  Jesus  Christ  is  verA'  God ;  ex- 
cept as  he  understands  himself  to-  be  a  lost  sinner,  which 
God  alone  can  teach  us.  The  careless  world  can  receive 
Jesus  as  a  prophet,  and  applaud  his  teachings;  none  but 
a  conscious  sinner  can  receive  him  as  a  divine  Savior.  "No 
nmn  can  call  Jesus  Lord,"  i,  e.  Jehovah  "but  by  the  Holy 
Ghost.""  A  sense  of  guilt  alone  opens  our  eyes  to  a  per- 
ception of  the  real  standing  of  Christ.  Sinners  in  danger 
of  perdition  discerned  him  through  his  disguise  as  man; 
while  learned  Pharisees  were  blind.  The  penitent  harlot, 
and  the  dying  thief  knew  him,  as  does  everyone  over- 
whelmed with  the  sense  of  guilt,  and  danger  of  the  judg- 
ment of  God. 

Our  Lord  proceeds:  ''Also,  I  say  unto  thee  that  thou 
art  Peter  or  stone:  and  on  this  stone  will  1  build  my 
church,  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it."' 
This  rock,  on  which  the  church  was  to  be  built,  was  not 
Peter;  but  the  great  truth  which  he  had  been  the  fli-st  to 
])rofess.  The  doctrine  of  the  full  divinity  of  Christ  is  to 
l)e  the  foundation  doctrine,  which  we  are  to  receive  with  a 
belief  firm  as  rock.  About  whatever  else  we  may  waver,  in 
this  we  are  to  be  immovable  as  rock.  The  gates  of  hell, 
the  delusions  of  self-iighteousness,  the  conceits  of  moralitA'" 
and  legalism  have  ever  fought  against  this  truth ;  and  often 
with  fire  and  sword:  and  will  continue  the  contest  to  the 
end,  but  shall  not  prevail.  Not  only  does  the  scriptui-e 
plainly  declare  him  (Jod:  but  the  necessities    of    our    souls 


Hlf^TOKIfAL   AND   DOCTKIXAL.  189 

require  a  divine  helper,  and  our  guilt  requii'es  a  divine 
atonement.  Nothing  less  than  blood  divine  can  cleanse  the 
stain  of  sin. 

Were  Christ  not  God  supreme;  but  only  an  exalted  in- 
ferior being;  his  death  would  be  no  more  efficacious  than 
that  of  the  lamb  upon  the  .TeAvish  altar ;  or  of  the  fly  upon 
the  point  of  the  child's  pin.  It  is  divinity  alone  that  gives 
it  virtue.  The  scripture  calls  the  blood  of  Jesus  of  Naza- 
reth the  "own  blood"  of  God,  and  his  life  the  life  of  God. 
The  excellency  of  his  offering  lies  in  the  fact  that  "he  gave 
himself  ioY  us.'"  The  discovery  of  the  merit  of  his  offering- 
is  made  at  the  same  moment :  when  we  awake  to  the  sense 
of  the  deadly  nature  of  sin,  and  the  immensity  of  our 
guilt. 

When  we  become  sensible  that  we  need  a  Savior  mighty 
to  save,  Jesus  is  revealed  to  us  in  his  real  character.  The 
Lord  had  at  length  a  privileged  few  who  were  beginning  to 
penetrate  his  disguise;  and  to  be  established  in  an  intelli- 
gent understanding  of  his  personality.  It  was  proper  that 
this  declaration  of  faith  should  be  emphasized  by  the  vision 
that  followed ;  aud  that  their  minds  should  be  opened  to 
still  larger  views  of  his  glory.  "He  that  hath,  to  him  shall 
be  given;  and  he  shall  have  abundance."  The  vision  seems 
to  have  occupied  the  principal  part  of  the  night  or  the 
whole;  as  the^'  ascended  the  mountain  in  the  evening,  and 
]"e turned  when  the  next  day  was  partly  passed. 

The  three  disciples  knew  nothing  of  what  was  to  occur; 
and  were  sleeping  while  the  Master  was  praying:  until  the 
brightness  of  the  light  awoke  them.  Jesus  was  the  central 
figure;  and  the  light  emanated  from  his  person,  the  whole 
of  which  was  lustrous.  His  dark  and  sombre  raiment  be- 
came whiter  than  anything  white  on  earth  from  the  lustre 
within:  and  we  are  reminded  of  the  description  of  him  in 
Rev.  ch.  1:14-15:  "His  head  and  his  hairs  were  white 
like  wool,  as  white  as  snow :  and  his  eyes  were  as  a  fiame 
of  fire;  and  his  feet  like  unto  brass,  as  if  the3'  burned  in  a 
furnace.  His  face  did  shine  as  the  sun."  When  he  ap- 
peared to  Saul  on  his  way  to  Damascus,  the  light  was 
brighter  than  the  sun  at  midday.  This  night  of  wonders 
was  desio-ned  to  teach    them    and  us: 


190  '        SKETCHES    FI{()M    THE    LIFK    OF   JESUS. 

1.  That  Jesus  was  the  subject  of  all  the  jjrophecies  and 
the  end  of  all  the  types  of  the  i^ast  ages.  "To  him  give 
all  the  prophets  witness."  The  two  present  on  that  moun- 
tain stand  for  the  whole  glorious  company.  How  all  would 
have  hastened  to  unite  in  glorifying  (^hrist.  had  it  been 
jtermitted.  we  can  imagine:  two  were  sufficient  for  a  testi- 
mony, and  he  would  have  no  more.  The  disciples  had  been 
unable  to  reconcile  the  predictions  of  the  Old  Testament,  as 
they  understood  them,  with  what  they  saw  in  their  master; 
on  that  memorable  night  they  learned,  that  whether  their 
interpretations  were  correct  or  not;  the  Messiah,  who  was 
the  great  burden  of  prophecy,  was  none  other  than  their 
own  Jesus.  The  difficulty  experiejticed  by  them  lay  in  the 
fact,  that  there  are  in  the  sacred  books  two  separate,  and 
wholly  distinct  strains  of  prediction :  one,  representing  the 
royal  dominion,  the  subjection  of  the  nations,  the  glories 
and  blessings  of  the  rule  of  the  Christ ;  and  another  em- 
phasizing the  lowness  of  his  condition,  the  rejection,  the 
repudiation,  the  unanimous  opposition;  and  the  variety 
and  intensity  of  his  sufferings.  The  harp  of  prophecy 
sounded  with  triumphant  melody  the  exaltation;  but  with 
all  its  glorious  tones  there  mingled  a  mysterious  under- 
plaint  of  agonies  and  groans,  and  accompaniment  of  woe. 
The  Jewish  solution  has  been  the  fiction  of  two  Messiahs: 
both  descriptions  seeming  impossible  of  application  to  one 
person.  Their  difficulty  was  the  abjectness  of  their  master's 
worldly  condition. 

Moses  has  preserved  f(jr  us  the  first  announcement  made 
in  Pideu  of  a  miraculous  conception  somewhei-e  adown  the 
ages,  when  a  second  man  should  appear,  who  should  also 
be  Jehovah,  without  human  father.  He  was  not  to  be  a 
Jewish  deliverer;  but  a  redeemer  of  the  race,  who  should 
bruise  the  head  of  the  old  serpent,  and  restore  our  lost  in- 
heritance forfeited  b}'  sin.  He  was  to  be  the  child  given, 
the  son  born,  the  Emmanuel.  The  world  was  to  be  disa])- 
pointed  in  him,  when  he  should  appear.  His  advent  was  to 
be  like  the  rising  of  the  sun ;  "all  flesh  shall  see  it  together.  " 
"The  sun  of  i-ighteousuess  shall  arise  with  healing  in  his 
beams;'"  all  nations  shall  be  blessed  in  him;"  lie  shall  be 
the  axis  on  which  the  world's  history  revolves;  the  one  who 


HISTOItrCAL  AND   DOCTIH.N AL.  191 

shall  receive  the  unmeasured  fulness  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  and 
make  known  all  things :  yet  he  shall  be  a  mere  Xazai-,  a 
sprout  from  the  old  perished  stump  of  Jesse,  "without  form 
or  comeliness,''  a  "root  out  of  the  dry  ground"  of  human 
depravity,  "a  worm  and  no  man,''  a  reproach  of  men  and 
despised  of  the  people." 

The  ages  had  been  preparing-  for  his  appearing;  a  nation 
had  been  organized,  and  miraculously  perpetuated  to  dis- 
tinguish him;  heaven  and  hell  were  moved  at  his  coming; 
and  3^et  "he  had  no  beauty  wherefore  we  should  desire  him. 
We  hid,  as  it  were,  our  faces  from  him  ;  he  was  despised  and 
we  esteemed  him  not.''  We  do  not  know  that  any  new  in- 
terpretations were  afforded;  but  they  were  certified,  and 
we  through  them  ;  that  every  prediction  of  the  prophets 
either  had  been,  or  was  to  be  fulfilled  to  the  letter  in  Jesus 
of  Nazareth.  The  two  dis])ensations  form  a  perfect  con- 
tinuity, a  development. 

2.  This  vision  also  taught  them  that  their  master  was 
the  son  of  (lod  in  a  sense  far  higher,  than  that  usually 
attached  to  the  words.  By  a  son  of  God,  the  Jews  of  that 
day  understood  a  man  endowed  with  the  highest  gifts  of 
wisdom,  and  power,  and  supremel3'  favored  by  an  assisting 
providence.  Their  ideas  lacked  definiteness ;  but  implied 
that  the  Messiah  was  to  be  the  very  highest,  and  chiefest  of 
the  human  family;  if  they  did  not  attribute  to  him  su]3er- 
human  excellence.  Some  even  made  his  origin  antedate  the 
crea,tion  of  Adam ;  but  he  was  still  to  be  only  a  man: 
they  did  not  attribute  to  him  a  divine  nature.  In  this 
sense  angels  are  sons  of  God,  and  likewise  good  men  by  a 
stretch  of  the  figure.  Jesus  in  his  humanity  was  truly  and 
properly  the  son  of  God;  but  this  night  taught  then],  that 
this  designation  had  a  far  highei-  meaning,  when  applied  to 
him:   in  his  spiiitual  personality  he  was  son  of  (lod. 

A  distinction  of  ]>ersons  in  the  God-head,  though  not 
clearly  taught  in  the  old  testament,  is  yet  distinctly  inti- 
mated. Indeed  every  doctrine  of  the  new  is  contained  in 
the  Jewish  scriptures  in  embryo,  as  it  were,  awaiting  devel- 
opment. Indeed  they  are  all  contained  in  the  one  book  of 
Genesis.  We  there  read  of  a  personage  called  the  angel  of 
the  Lord,   who  receives  divine  honors    and    woi'ship;   who 


192  SKETCHES   FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

swears  by  himself;  names  himself  "I  am  that  I  am:"  who 
leads  Israel  by  a  pillar  of  cloud  and  fire;  excludes  them 
from  the  land  of  Canaan  for  their  unbelief:  and  dispenses 
blessings  by  his  own  sovereignty :  according  to  his  pleasure. 
The  three  coexist  as  Jehovah,  the  angel  Jehovah  and  the 
spirit  Jehovah. 

In  accordance  witli  this  plurality  in  unity,  the  first  verse 
of  (Jenesis  reads:  ''In  the  beginning  Gods  he  created  the 
heavens  and  the  earth."  This  is  but  an  example  of  a  large 
class  of  passages;  and  another  equally  striking  (ilass  occurs 
in  which  a  plural  verb  is  construed  with  the  name  of  (xod 
in  the  singular,  viz.:  "Thou  art  a  God  that  judgest  (plural) 
in  the  earth."  We  do  not  suppose  that  the  minds  of  the 
three  disciples  were  clear;  but  one  thing  was  evident:  that 
their  master  was  son  of  God  not  only  as  to  his  humanity; 
but  that  his  relation  was  such  as  no  creature  could  sustain. 
They  were  catching  a  glimpse  of  his  native  glorv.  Prophets 
had  taken  their  orders  from  him;  and  sink  out  of  sight 
when  he  appears,  as  the  stars  hide  themselves  before  the 
sun.  The  mightiest  of  them  confess  their  measureless  in- 
feriority, while  God  proclaims:  "hear  ye  him."  Let  prophets 
stand  aside.  '"He  is  the  faithful  and  true  witness,''  who 
alone  came  down  from  heaven,  and  "sjjeaks  what  he  does 
know  and  testifies  what  he  has  seen."  He  teaches  from  his 
own  fulness,  and  draws  from  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
knowledge,  being  alone  capable  of  reading  the  seven-sealed 
book  of  the  divine  mysteries.  If  this  scene  was  a  brief  view 
of  the  glory  of  Christ,  it  was  the  smallest  glimpse  that  could 
be  revealed. 

8.  Another  thing  \-ividly  taught  by  that  night  of  revela- 
tions, was  the  coming  death  of  him  they  followed;  and  that  this 
death  was  to  be  the  condition  of  men"s  salvation;  the  purchase 
price  of  all  good .  Tiiey  had  shown  themsel  ves  intenselj-  averse 
to  hearing  anything  of  this  kind;  Peter  speaking  for  all  had 
even  remonstrated  against  it;  yet  to  die  was  the  one,  the 
only  object  of  our  Savior's  mission,  so  to  speak;  God  has 
many  messengers  and  manj'  methods;  there  was  but  one 
who  could  redeem,  and  he  by  death  only.  The  necessity 
of  this  death  was  the  lesson  to  be  learned.  The  disciples 
probably  understood  his  words  about  death,  and  the  resur- 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  193 

rectiou  from  the  dead,  as  fi^-iires  of  speecli;  whose  real  sig- 
nifieatiou  events  alone  could  reveal.  The  more  exalted  their 
views  of  their  master  became,  the  more  impossible  it  seemed 
to  them  that  he,  the  Lord  of  life,  who  had  tlie  keys  of 
death  and  of  hell,  should  ever  be  subject  to  death,  the  re- 
sult and  effect  of  sin.  The  object  of  Christ  was  not  to  break 
the  shock  of  the  catastrophe,  when  it  should  arrive;  but  to 
enforce  the  great  truth  of  the  necessity  of  his  atonement. 
The  government  of  God  is  more  clearly  illustrated,  and  its 
great  principles  more  effectually  demonstrated  in  this,  than 
in  any  other  world  of  his  dominion.  This  earth  is  the 
centre  of  the  mora.1  universe;  and  to  it  angels  come  to  study 
the  divine  administration.  Here  the  immutable  attributes 
are  harmonized  in  the  salvation  of  sinners  guilty,  and  vile 
as  devils.  Here  mercy  and  truth  are  met  together;  righteous- 
ness and  peace  have  kissed  each  other;  and  a  God  who  does 
not  look  upon  sin,  or  behold  iniquity,  takes  sinners  to 
his  bosom  and  his  heart. 

We  have  no  particulars  of  the  conversation:  no  words  are 
reported ;  but  doubless  these  glorified  and  happy  spirits 
emphasized  the  fact;  that  their  glory  and  their  joy  were 
the  fruit  of  the  prospective  death  of  the  son  of  God, 
as  the  whole  church  in  the  book  of  revelation  does.  ThLs 
vicarious  and  atoning  death  declares  the  unpardonable  na- 
ture of  sin.  the  changeless  law  of  God,  and  the  justice, 
whose  inflexible  severity  no  creature  fully  apprehends.  Its 
great  object  was  not  so  much  to  show  tlie  mercy  of  God, 
as  "to  declare  his  righteousness,"  to  write  the  law  again 
in  the  blood  of  Christ.  By  the  cross  of  Christ  the  law  is 
more  loudly  proclaimed,  and  its  sanctions  more  terribly 
enforced,  than  when  it  was  uttered  amid  the  thunderings 
and  lightnings,  and  voices  of  Sinai.  Though  the  souls  of 
the  disciples  were  overcome  with  moital  fear;  yet  they  felt 
it  was  good  to  be  there;  for  the  cross  of  Christ  reveals  the 
truths  Avhich  make  men's  hearts  burn  within  them.  The 
whole  power  of  the  holy  word  lies  in  the  central  truth; 
that  ''when  we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for  us." 

It  is  a  strange  fact,  that  the  Jewish  people  did  not  to  any 
extent  look  upon  the  blood}'  sacrifices  of  the  altar  as  typi- 
fying the  offering  up  of    the  Messiah  for  sin.    The  whole 
—13 


194  SKKTCHES   FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

teachin«»-  of  the  ritual  of  blood  had  been  lost;  and  amid 
all  the  references  to  the  foregoing  prophecies  found  in  Rab- 
binic lore,  not  one  allusion  occurs  showing,  that  they  ap- 
prehended the  real  meaning  of  the  bloody  sacrifices.  Na 
stronger  evidence  could  be  found  to  show  the  utter  lifeless- 
ness,  and  cold  foi-mality  of  the  Judasism  of  that  day  down 
to  the  present.  The  truth,  illustrated  by  the  transfigura- 
tion, is  still  the  rock  on  which  our  salvation  is  to  be  built. 
As  soon  as  we  intelhgently  and  cordially  acknowledge  the 
divinity,  which  gives  the  atoning  work  its  value,  we  are 
members  of  the  church  then  organized  by  this  confession. 

Then  follows  the  strange  and  unexpected  charge-  "tell  no 
man  the  vision;  till  the  son  of  man  be  risen  from  the  dead.' 
li  was  not  to  be  communicated  even  to  their  fellow  disciples. 
Such  reticence  belonged  to  all  his  operations ;  and  agrees; 
with  the  prediction  of  Isaiah:  "he  shall  not  strive  nor  cry 
neither  shall  any  man  hear  his  voice  in  the  sti-eets."  A 
time  should  come  to  proclaim  it;  and  he  would  wait  that 
time.  Such  reserve,  such  modesty  are  linhuman,  and  un- 
earthly; but  belong  properly  to  his  sphere  and  his  claims. 
Perhaps  the  minds  of  the  twelve  were  not  at  this  stage 
open  to  the  reception  of  all  the  truth  communicated  to  the 
favored  three.  We  must  remember  that  among  them  was 
a  traitor  Judas,  who  could  not  be  made  privy  to  any  of 
the  mysteries  of  the  Kingdom;  a  cold  and  doubting  Thomas, 
who  believed  neither  his  own  eyes  nor  ears;  and  others  so 
slow  to  accept  what  did  not  concur  with  their  own  ideas: 
that  Christ,  who  u-efused  utterly  "a  sign"'  to  the  cavilers 
outside,  wiselv  commanded:  ''tell  no  man  the  vision.'" 


HISTORirAL   AN1>    l>0(TKINAL.  195 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


JESUS  WALKING  ON  TPft  SEA, 


The  events  recited  in  Jno.  vi  showed  that  Jesus  possessed 
imhmited  control  of  all  the  departments  of  nature;  and 
that  these  are  troverned  not  by  fixed  and  unalterable  laws : 
but  by  his  supreme  will,  of  which  these  laws  are  the  ex- 
pi-ession.  The  force,  that  sustains  all  things,  and  prescribes 
the  method  of  their  changes,  centred  in  him :  and  abides 
in  him  still.  "By  him  all  things  consist,'*  and  are  u|)held 
by  the  word  of  his  power.  Xo  purely  creative  act,  produc- 
ing matter  from  nothing,  may  have  taken  place  since  that 
mentioned  in  the  first  verse  of  Genesis :  when  God  brought 
into  being  the  heavens  and  the  earth  and  all  that  in  them  is. 

He  formed  Adam  out  of  materials  already'  existing;  as 
he  had  brought  into  life  all  previous  occupants  of  the 
globe  from  the  dust  of  the  earth.  Every  original  atom 
created  was  labeled  and  numbered  and  stored,  I'eady  to 
enter  some  organism,  when  moulded  into  the  desired  form. 
So  when  Jesus  restored  a  limb  or  an  eye;  while  there  may 
have  been  no  creation  from  nothing;  the  needed  atoms 
gathered  at  his  will,  arranged  themselves  as  though  instinct 
with  life,  and  took  form  at  his  word.  Such  a  restoration 
was  a  creation  in  the  same  sense  in  which  it  is  said  that 
Adam  was  created ;  and  so  was  the  multiplication  of  the 
loaves,  when  he  fed  the  multitude  near  Bethsaida.  From 
air  and  soil  the  needed  particles  rushed  into  shape,  and  added 
themselves  to  what  he  held  in  his  hand.  All  was  done 
under  a  direction  and  supervision  to  which  God  alone  is 
competent. 

So  when  he  walked  upon  the  sea,  he  did  not  accomplish 
the  feat  b^'  the  levitation  of  his  human  body,  nor  by  chang- 
ing the  qualities  of  the  watei",  as  the  experiment  of  Peter 
incontrovei-tibly    showed :    but    he    did    it  as  the   Lord    of 


1*)()  SKET(  HL:s    FKOM    THK    life   of  JEHUS." 

iiat  iiiv.  wliile  all  the  essential  properties  of  matter  remained 
unchanged.  As  lon<>-  as  Peter  kept  his  eye  on  him  and  be- 
lieved, he  upheld  him:  when  he  turned  away  his  look  and 
his  faith,  Christ  immediateh'  relinquished  him,  and  he  began 
to  sink.  The  sea  is  his  servant:  and  he  can  plant  a  syca- 
mine tree  in  its  quivering  waters:  so  that  it  shall  stand  as 
stable  as  though  rooted  on  the  mountain  side.  Impossi- 
l)les  are  possible  to  him:  and  nature  in  all  its  departments 
hastens  to  his  slighest  wish.  She  knew  her  Lord,  though 
robed  in  the  disguise  of  humanity,  as  did  angels  and  devils: 
nian  alone  failed  to  recognize  him. 

In  the  two  accounts  of  feeding  a'multitude  from  a  supply 
for  one,  a  glimpse  is  obtained  of  the  intense  interest  felt  in 
the  teachings  of  tlie  Xazarene.  Hearers  came  from  far  and 
continued  without  food ;  so  that  they  could  hardly  return 
witliout  fainting  in  the  way.  For  the  three  da^'s  the  Mas- 
ter was  as  destitute  as  they;  but  hunger  was  forgotten  in 
his  zeal  for  the  instruction  of  willing  listeners.  A  more 
orderly  crowd  never  gathered,  yielding  implicit  obedience 
to  his  directions  with  an  almost  military  precision.  ()ne 
voice  alone  was  heard,  one  will  obeyed,  and  all  were  |)res- 
ent  for  one  purpose  of  receiving  the  teaching  and  the 
teacher.  Xone  had  come  to  communicate  with  friends,  or 
to  spend  an  idle  day. 

The  very  presence  of  the  Xazarene  banished  levity,  and 
<lwarfed  all  earthly  concerns:  while  divine  claims  and  un- 
seen realities  assumed  their  just  proportion.  The  eagerness 
of  the  audience  routed  his  deep  compassion,  which  was  ex- 
pressed in  works  of  healing,  and  words  of  love,  and  other 
visible  ways  not  mentioned  by  the  evangelists,  who  noted 
that  their  Master  was  deeply  moved.  His  divine  yearnings 
gave  force  to  every  uttered  word. 

The  most  affecting  incident  of  the  whole  transaction  was 
his  giving  of  thanks.  He  took  the  loaves  in  his  hand,  and 
looked  up  to  heaven,  and  "gave  thanks,"  which  he  could 
only  do  as  man,  and,  as  Mark  tells  us,  "blessed  them" 
which  was  an  act  divine.  Such  human  weakness  mingled 
with  divine  majesty  uttered  the  solemn  invocation;  that, 
as  John,  tells  us,  ch.  xv:  23,  his  words  sank  deep  into  the 
heart  of  evei-voiic  that   heard,  and   rooted  in   his  memorv. 


HISTOKIVAL   AND   DOCTlilXAL.  197 

This  iiitrwcWoed  and  hallowed  the  nieal,  the  .sweetest  of 
vvhich  those  present  ever  partook  :  though  it  consisted  only 
of  the  v*oarsest  bread  aud  dried  fish.  He  could  as  easily 
have  furnished  the  choicest  dainties  and  wines:  but  no  king 
ever  spread  his  table  with  a  more  welcome  and  bettei-  rel- 
ished repast.  How  strangely  does  the  command  sound 
fi-om  one  of  resources  so  unlimited:  ''gather  u])  the  fi-ag- 
meiits  that  remain;  that  nothing  be  lost!"  The  broken 
crusts  and  fragments  of  fish  doubtless  supplied  many  a 
homely  meal  to  the  master  and  his  family.  John  the  Bap- 
tist was  not  more  simple  and  auster-e  in  his  tastes. .  Appe- 
tite never  governed  him,  though  taunted  as  ''a  gluttonous 
man  and  a  wine-bibber." 

The  supply  was  limited  onl}'  by  the  nund)er  ])resent; 
aud  would  have  sufficed  for  the  whole  congregation  in  the 
wilderness:  and  suggested  at  once  the  presence  of  a  leader 
■equal  to  Moses,  if  not  superior.  In  some  respects  the  sup- 
ply surpassed  the  miracle  in  the  ^vilderness :  and  recalled  it 
to  mind  most  vividly.  The  impression  made  by  it  was  in- 
tense: it  placed  our  Lord  at  the  zenith  of  his  popularity-. 
The  heart  of  the  nation  responded  to  whatever  indicated 
the  pi'esence  of  a  deliverer.  It  is  the  only  miracle  related 
by  all  of  the  four  evangelists:  because  it  was  the  crisis  of 
the  Savior's  ministry.  His  path  had  been  upward  until 
this  summit  was  reached ;  now  it  descended  abruptly  to 
the  valley  of  death-shade.  The  rulers  had  long  before 
ranged  themselves  in  opposition:  now  the  people  "'tuined 
away,  as  it  were,  their  faces  from  him."  To  the  eyes  of  a 
suffering  nation  he  was  ''without  form  or  comeliness:  and 
had  no  beauty,  wherefore  they  should  desire  him." 

The  proposal  was  fi-eely  made  and  eagerly  acce^^ted  to 
take  him  by  force  and  make  him  King,  notwithstanding 
his  well  understood  repugnance  to  the  position.  In  this 
movement  the  twelve  were  keenly  enlisted  as  advisers  and 
promoters.  Judas  Iscariot  was  foremost  in  urging  it.  and 
in  the  subsequent  murmuring:  as  was  perhaps  his  asso. 
ciate  Simon  Zelotes.  That  the  disciples  were  very  active  in 
advocatiuii-  it  can  be  gathered  from  the  fact,  that  the  Mas- 
ter found  it  necessar}'  to  send  them  away,  before  he  could 
dismiss  the  multitude,      The  exercise  of  authoritv  was  i-e. 


198  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

(Hiii-ed  in  ordei*  to  accomplish  this.  Their  own  ship  was 
the  only  one  present  at  the  time:  and  into  this  he  coin- 
pelk'fl  them  to  embark,  and  depart  for  the  other  side  of 
tlie  lake.  They  departed  demurring-,  but  obedient.  So 
rapidly  had  the  report  of  the  intended  measure  spread 
among-  that  susceptible  people,  that  several  ships,  full  of 
eager  visitors  ready  for  a  demonstration,  arrived  during- 
the  evening;  the  wind  being  favorable  for  the  passage. 
They  fonnd  the  disciples,  the  prime  agitators  in  the  pro- 
posed movement,  absent,  and  the  multitudes  melting 
away;  though  adhering  still  to  their  fixed  purpose  defi- 
nitely formed. 

The  nation  was  ripe  for  just  the  meditated  step,  which 
not  only  commended  itself,  but  suggested  itself  to  the 
judgment  of  all  simultaneously.  The  disciples  were  good 
judges  of  what  the  times  demanded,  and  the  temper  of  the 
people  would  sustain  Had  the  nation  been  assembled  in 
convention,  the  proi)osal  would  have  been  carried  by  accla- 
nuition.  This  temptation  of  the  kingdom  had  been  pre- 
sented to  Jesus  before,  and  had  been  most  energetically 
refused,  at  the  commencement  of  his  career;  when  the  hand 
of  Satan  offered  the  crown. 

For  this  cause  came  he  into  the  world  to  be  a  king;  and 
he  was  seeking  a  throne:  but  not  a  throne  of  earthly  state. 
The  groaning  nation  i-ei)eated  the  great  temptation  of  the 
wilderness;  in  its  extremity  it  added  its  call  to  the  voice 
of  the  tempter.  The  virgin,  the  daughter  of  Zion  was  sit- 
ting in  the  dust,  .is  in  the  days  of  Jeremiah:  the  yoke 
which  her  transgressions  had  wreathed,  was  on  her  neck: 
slu^  s])rea;d  out  her  hands:  and  there  was  none  to  com- 
foit  her:  her  eyes  had  failed  in  looking  for  her  vain  help: 
and  now  she  turned  to  Jesus.  "The  Lord  hath  afflicted  me 
in  the  day  of  his  fierce  anger:  he  hath  s])read  a  net  for 
my  feet:  he  hath  delivered  me  into  their  hands,  from  whom 
I  am  not  able  to  rise  up,"  was  the  dirge  in  every  s^'na- 
gogue.  The  call  certainly  added  force  to  the  suggestion 
of  Satan;  and  invited  Davids  son  and  heii-  to  restore  the 
throne  of  David. 

The  movement  begun  at  Bethsaida  would  have  speedily 
become  a  general    popular    movement:    had    not  oui-  Lord 


HTSTORICAI.   AND    nO('TKlNAl>.  191) 

^ffectualh^  checked  it  at  once.  The  disciples  uttei'h'  failed 
to  see  the  true  relation  of  the  parties,  until  the  great 
catastrophe  demonstrated,  that  the  real  feelino-  toward 
their  master  was  one  of  hostility  to  the  death.  To  this 
.same  people  Pilate  said  at  the  last,  ''behold  your  king-.'' 
and  the  response  was,  "away  with  him:  crucify  him."  Our 
l-/Ord  could  never  be  deceived  by  the  ]:)rofession  of  pretended 
loyalty.  There  is  a  throne  which,  if  humbly  offered  to 
him.  he  will  never  refuse:  that  of  the  humble  and  contrite 
heart,  dear  to  him  as  the  throne  of  universal  dominion. 
Fire  and  water  can  more  easily  unite  and  hve  together  in 
harmony  and  peace,  than  Christ  and  a  people  dead  in  theii- 
tresspasses  and  sins. 

Having  sent  away  the  disciples,  and  dismissed  the  mul- 
titude, he  went  up  into  a  mountain  apart  to  pray,  from 
whose  lofty  heights  the  sea  lay  spread  out  before  him  in 
the  bright  moonlight,  with  the  ship  that  carried  his  church 
struggling  along  its  toilsome  passage.  His  object  was  to 
teach  his  dispirited  followers,  and  through  them  the  ages 
a  much  needed  lesson,  by  a  night  of  parable  and  of  wonders. 
It  was  his  custom  to  teach  b^'  object  lessons,  and  to  illus- 
trate and  emphasize  by  miracle  what  he  had  communicated 
in  words.  An  instance  is  the  withering  of  the  barren  fig- 
tree,  as  a  tangible  warning  to  the  fruitless  nation.  When 
Christ  abandons,  the  vital  sap  ceases  its  flow  instantly,  the 
spirit  of  God  is  withdrawn,  and  a  heart  withei'ing.  the  pre- 
lude of  doom  comes  on.  What  are  the  mangled  and 
broken  bread  of  the  eucharist  and  the  wine  poured  out  in 
a  big  stream,  but  an  object  lesson,  enabling  us  to  see 
through  them  a  glimpse  of  his  sufferings?  How  did  he 
teach  humility?  With  a  little  child  pressed  to  his  bosom, 
or  with  the  basin  and  towel  of  a  servant  of  the  lowest  grade 
about  his  loins. 

In  like  manner  on  this  remarkable  night  he  was  impress- 
ing upon  the  disciples,  that  the  course  of  the  church,  like 
that  of  the  ship  that  bore  them,  was  not  to  be  smooth 
.and  eas3'.  The  wind  was  fierce  and  directly  contrary,  and 
the  waves  ran  high  and  threateniug:  and  no  advance  was 
possible  except  b.y  vigorous  use  of  the  oars,  and  continuous 
<?xertion,  the  intermission  of  which  for  a  moment,  lost  the 


202  SKKTCHKS    FROM    THi:    LFFK   OF   JESUS. 

thought.  "Loid."  said  he.  •'if  it  be  thou,  bid  me  vonw 
unto  thee  upon  the  water."  This  sounds  like  a  bi,<i-  bov 
anxious  to  try  some  novel  and  darin<i  adventure.  The 
Savior  permitted  it  in  order  to  teach  him  a  great  and 
useful  lesson.  Peter  had  no  thought  but  of  the  odd  and 
unheard  of  experiment:  Jesus  would  inculcate  a  lesson, 
which  might  in  time  mould  his  life,  and  prepare  him  for 
future  leadershi]).  "Come."  said  he,  and  the  command  im- 
plied a  piomise  of  su])])ort.  Every  command  contains  assur- 
ance of  the  aid  necessary  for  its  accomplishment.  And 
Peter  step])ed  out  boldly,  and,  abandoning  the  su])])ort  of 
the  ship,  "walked  on  the  water  to  go  to  Jesus."  Having 
left  his  base  and  ventured  out,  "*he  saw  the  wind  boister- 
ous and  was  afraid."  realizing  his  risk.  .\s  long  as  he  saw 
Jesus  oidy  and  contided  in  his  word,  he  walked  safely:  but 
when  he  surrendered  his  attention  to  the  obstacles  and 
dangers,  he  began  to  sink;  and  giving  way  to  them,  he 
would  have  perished,  if  the  I.,ord  had  not  caught  him,  with 
the  rebuke:  "O  thou  of  little  faith,  wherefore  didst  thou 
doubt?"  Had  he  continued  to  confide,  no  storm  could 
have  overcome  him. 

The  time  came  when  this  was  a  most  profitable  lesson 
to  Petei-,  and  to  others.  At  a  period  when  the  sea  of 
human  passion  raged,  and  the  winds  of  diabolism  blew 
with  tenfold  fury,  he  as  well  as  the  other  apostles  were 
able  to  walk  upon  the  waves.  On  the  day  of  Pentecost 
they  received  the  power  through  faith  to  look  above  all 
the  turmoil  of  the  elements:  to  hear  nothing  but  the  com- 
niauil  of  Christ:  not  only  to  face  the  frowning  world,  but 
"tread  upon  the  lion  and  addei',  and  trample  the  young 
lion  and  the  dragon  under  their  feet."  The  boldness  of 
Chiistiau  faith  is  more  sublime  than  the  mere  ])hysical 
courage  of  the  wari'ior.  When  the  enemies  saw  this  sui)er- 
liuniau  boldness,  the  sight  i)rought  vividly  back  to  memory 
its  most  illustrious  exanii)le.  the  Nazarene  teacher. 

.Nev(M-  was  the  wicked  world  more  excited  by  hatred  of 
<J<)d  and  his  gosi)el :  and  never  were  men  more  worthy  of 
the  designation  ''more  than  conquerors."  The  enemies 
••  threattMK'd  them,"  "scourged  them."  and  "jiut  them  in 
the  connnoii  prison:"   but  there   was   but  one  sight  before 


HISTOIMCAL   AND    DOCTKINAL.  203 

their  eyes,  their  blessed  Master  ascending-  and  saying':  "Lo 
I  am  with  yon  always,  even  to  the  end."  One  scene  was 
indelibly  painted  on  memory's  tablets:  one  voice  sounded 
in  their  souls:  they  saw  nothino-  else,  heard  nothing  l)e- 
side.  Faith  trusts  and  obeys.  This  was  a  useful  lesson,  not 
merely  to  the  apostles,  but  to  believers  of  all  times. 

The  church  may  meet  with  little  opposition  now:  but  it 
may  be  because  the  present  is  an  age  of  toleration  and 
compromise.  When  the  church  shall  become  ''terrible  as 
an  army  with  banners,"' the  world  will  also  show  its  colors. 
Whenever  the  church  is  in  its  normal  condition,  which  we 
call  a  state  of  revival,  which  should  be  not  its  occasional 
but  its  constant  condition:  more  or  less  opposition  is  man- 
ifested; according  as  the  church  is  more  or  less  aggressive. 
It  is  by  no  means  dead  but  sleeping;  while  upon  the  other 
side  there  is  no  sleeping,  no  inactivity,  no  decay  of  zeal. 
Faith  alone  can  render  the  church  victorious.  Not  only 
was  its  first  establishment  accomphshed  by  men,  whose  one 
singular  distinction  was  their  perfect  faith;  every  advance 
has  been  conducted  by  leaders  of  the  same  stamp.  Luther 
is  an  illustration  of  the  same  spirit,  as  are  the  hundreds 
Avho  in  the  times  of  trial  have  confirmed  their  testimony 
by  their  blood. 

With  Christ  in  the  vessel,  "immediately  it  was  at  the 
land  whither  they  went.'"  The  disciples  were  so  animated 
and  elevated  by  the  presence  of  the  master,  that  they  were 
hardly  sensible  of  the  lapse  of  time.  The  opposition  of  the 
wind  and  sea  was  no  longer  regarded:  the  voyage  was  ac- 
complished before  the  fervor  of  their  surprise  and  exhilara- 
tion had  known  abatement.  The  ship  itself  seemed  almost 
to  walk  the  water.  It  had  truly  been  a  might  of  wonders, 
and  also  of  great  discoveries.  Our  Lord  seems  often  to 
have  selected  the  night  season  for  the  most  remarkable 
revelations,  which  he  made  of  himself.  When  he  comes  to 
his  church  still  through  a  night  of  tempest,  his  pi-esence 
brings  joy  and  victory;  the  powers  of  evil  are  smitten  be- 
fore him:  bleeding  hearts  receive  the  oil  of  joy:  bruised  reeds 
are  strengthened;  the  smoking  flax  kindles  into  a  flame  of 
love  and  hope;  and  an  impulse  heavenward  is  felt  generally. 
When  his  cause  makes  its  final  conquest    of    the    world,  it 


204  SKETCHES    FROM    THE   LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

will  be  not  by  might  nor  by  power,  bnt  by  the  presence  of 
the  kino-.  The  discourse  of  the  next  daj'^  in  the  s^'nagogue 
of  Capernaum  shows  how  easily  he  could  cool  the  ardor  of 
his  mercenary  supporters,  who  desired  to  make  him  the 
active  promoter  of  their  own  worldly  schemes.  They  for- 
got their  desire  to  make  him  king:  closed  their  synagogues 
against  hin);  and  no  longei'  followed  him  in  crowds  in  (jal- 
ilee.  The  nation  would  give  no  serious  attention  to  any 
])OSsible  Messiah,  whose  prime  object  was  not  the  deliver- 
ance of  Israel  from  subjection  to  the  great  Gentile  power. 
But  a  brief  interval  of  a  few  days  elapsed,  until  he  re- 
ceived at  Cesarea,  Philippi  the  confession  of  the  twelve  of 
the  bottom  conviction  of  their  souls:  that  though  the 
people  had  desei'ted  him,  and  the  rulers  liad  placed  them- 
selves in  determined  opposition,  yet  they  knew  him  to  be 
the  Christ,  the  son  of  the  living  (rod;  and  would  adhere 
to  their  convictions  against  the  united  world.  He  had  in- 
deed lost  the  sanction  of  the  nation :  but  he  had  gained  a 
faithful  few,  who  beheld  enshrined  within  the  temple  of  his 
humanity,  a  heaveidy  presence.  While  the  luilk  of  the  peo- 
ple saw  and  perceived  not,  heard  and  understood  not, 
thei'e  was  a  small  number  that  appreciated  his  real  stand- 
ing and  personality.  The  sifting  of  the  mass  left  a  few 
precious  grains  of  good  seed.  In  his  final  prayer  the  re- 
sult is  concisely  stated:  "O  righteous  Father,  the  world 
hath  not  known  thee:  but  I  have  known  thee:  and  these 
have  known  that  thou  hast  sent  me.  And  1  have  declared 
unto  them  thv  name,  and  will  de(^lare  it.'' 


HISTOUK  Al.    AND    DOCTRINAL.  205 


CHAPTER  XX. 


THE  LUNATIC  BOY  AT  THE  MOUNT  OF  TRANSFIGURATION, 


Great  obscurity  rests  upon  the  whole  subject  of  demoniacal 
possession,  which  may  never  be  entirely  relieved.  The 
question  ever  arises,  is  there  anything-  of  the  kind  in  our 
day?  Can  we  judge  by  any  present  phenomena,  about  the 
malady  so  frequentl^^  mentioned  in  the  gospels?  or  was  Satan 
allowed  larger  liberty  then ;  in  order  that  the  superiority 
of  the  Redeemer  might  be  more  conclusively  demonsti-ated 
by  his  continual  victory  over  him?  It  was  at  the  time 
generally  admitted  that  the  casting  out  of  demons  was 
one  of  his  mightiest  works.  It  is  impossible  to  deny  the 
reality  of  these  possessions  in  that  day,  as  we  have  in  the 
gospels  a  divinely  true  account  of  them.  These  demons 
were  not  the  spirits  of  departed  men :  as  the  scriptures 
afford  no  evidence  whatever,  that  the  spirits  of  men  right- 
eous or  wicked  are  ever  permitted  to  revisit  this  earth. 
The  examples  of  Samuel  and  Moses  and  Elias  are  excep- 
tional. These  demon  spirits  were  of  another  order  than 
human. 

That  the  evangelists  are  speaking  of  actual  s])irits,  and 
not  of  personified  diseases  is  evident  from  the  history  of 
the  first  exorcism,  which  took  place  in  the  synagogue  of 
Capernaum ;  in  which  case  Luke,  himself  an  intelligent  phy- 
sician, tells  us  that  at  the  command  of  Jesus  the  devil 
came  out  of  the  man,  "and  hurt  him  not;''  an  expression 
that  could  not  be  made  concerning  a  disease.  The  devil 
seemingly  had  the  ability-  to  throw  the  subject  in  the 
midst,  and  otherwise  to  injure  him ;  had  not  a  superior 
power  prevented.  The  superhuman  sagacity  of  the  afflict- 
ed man,  in  penetrating  the  disguise  of  our  Savior's  hu- 
manity, and  declaring  his  true  individuality,  argues  a  more 


'2()Ct  SKETCHES    FHOM    TH1-:    LIFi:   OF   JFSL'S. 

than  iiiortnl  insight.  At  tlie  time  such  an  opiuioii  of  the 
Nazareue  was  hardly  entei-taiueil  except  by  the  liaptist  and 
very  few.  ])erhaps  by  none  beside. 

In  forming  a  judgment  concerning  these  tei-rible  afflic- 
tions, all  must  agree  that  they  could  not  take  place 
under  the  administration  of  the  Holy  (Jrod,  against  the 
will  of  the  subject.  These  individuals  suffering  in  this  man- 
ner must  have  lost  control  of  themselves,  as  the  insane: 
or  have  never  possessed  self-control,  as  the  idiotic  or  feeble- 
minded; or  were  persons  destitute  of  one  or  more  of  the 
five  senses.  Such,  being  looked  upon  as  "altogether  born 
in  sins/'  may  have  been  treated  with  such  unvarying 
harshness,  as  to  lead  them  easily  to  surrender  themselves 
to  diabolical  influence.  At  all  events  it  must  be  received 
as  an  axiom,  that  God  would  never  suljject  a  creature  to 
the  dominion  of  infernal  spirits  by  his  own  dispensation. 
Devils  may  have  usurped  the  command  of  such  as  no 
longei-  had  the  power  of  I'esistance:  and  it  may  be  con- 
ceded that  such  possession  may  exist  in  isolated  cases  in 
every  age,  without  any  reflection  upon  the  character  of 
Jehovah.  It  is  a  comfortable  conviction,  that  the  subjects 
of  this  distressing  ailment  wei-e  such  as  have  been  named. 

This  possession  was  something  additional  to  the  insanity 
or  idiocy;  and  was  sometimes  complicated  with  bodily 
disease,  as  in  the  case  under  consideration.  The  epilepsy 
had  been  congenital,  and  had  affected  and  weakened  the 
mind,  until  there  was  no  longer  self-command;  and  the 
possession  supervened.  The  patient  was  lunatic,  or  his 
nmlady  was  perio(U.;al.  All  periodicity  tallies  with  the 
motions  of  the  moon  and  the  length  of  a  lunar  revolu- 
tion. Even  winds  and  rains  largel3^  conform  to  this  ar- 
rangement, and  many  diseases.  The  ague  of  the  malari- 
ous districts  of  our  own  country,  though  never  susi)ected 
of  a  connection  with  the  moon ;  howevei-  thoroughly 
broken  and  checked,  shows  a  tendency  to  i-ecur  the  four- 
teenth day.    Such  was  the  case  with  this  lunatic  boy. 

The  description,  which  the  father  gives  of  him,  is  the  most 
]jatlietic  that  can  be  conveyed  in  human  language.  No  ca- 
laniity  could  be  more  dire  or  grievous:  and  we  hear  the 
unutterable  ('ompassion  of  a  parent  in  his  woi'ds.    The  boy 


HISTORICAL   AND    DOCTKINAL.  2^)7 

was  his  only  son  and  oiil^-  child :  and  should  have  been  the 
hope  and  stay  of  his  parents  in  their  age;  but  he  had  been, 
and  was  ever  to  be,  an  object  of  ceaseless  anxiety,  and  con- 
tinual supervision.  He  had  been  kept  more  watchfully  than 
a  helpless  infant  to  the  present  hour;  and  his  condition 
cast  a  deep  shadow  over  their  whole  future. 

The  father  had  long-  heard  of  the  mighty  works  of  the 
Xazarene,  and  possessed  a  degree  of  faith  in  his  Messiah- 
ship.  He  improved  the  opportunity  of  his  pi-esence  near 
at  hand,  in  this  northern  extremity  of  the  land,  to  bring 
his  son  to  him  for  healing;  but  arriving,  found  the  Master 
absent;  and  the  disciples  unapprized  of  the  place  in  which 
he  \vas,  and  of  the  hour  of  his  i-eturn.  As  the  apostles  had 
publicly  received  power  to  cast  out  devils,  and  perform  the 
other  works  of  cure  wrought  by  the  Master,  the  applicant 
appealed  to  them  for  relief.  But  though  they  had  cast  out 
devils,  and  done  many  wonderful  works  in  the  name  of 
Jesus :  yet  to  them  he  appealed  in  vain ;  their  prayers  and 
commands  were  ineffectual.  As  our  Lord  afterwards  ex- 
plained to  theuj,  the  cause  of  their  failure  was  unbelief. 
The  healing  power  did  not  abide  in  them :  but  in  him :  and 
when  their  connection  with  him  was  broken  by  unbelief, 
their  powej-  was  gone.  The  cause  of  their  present  want  of 
confidence  may  have  been  two-fold. 

1.  The  Master's  emphatic  predictions  of  his  own  arrest, 
condemnation  and  death,  at  the  hands  of  his  enemies,  had 
actuall3^  weakened  their  belief  of  his  Messialiship.  He  had 
refrained  from  announcing  this  fearful  denouement  in  his 
earlier  teachings,  except  very  occasionally.  He  had  been 
waiting  for  them  to  become  immovably  settled  in  their  con- 
victions, that  he  was  the  (Jhrist  of  (iod;  before  he  communi- 
cated to  them  the  ignominious  end  to  which  his  ministry 
was  coming.  He  had  afforded  them  every  opportunity  of 
knowledge,  made  them  eye-witnesses  of  his  works,  hearers 
of  his  teachings,  and  companions  of  his  secluded  hours; 
until,  by  their  own  confession,  they  were  firm  in  their  be- 
lief that  he  was  the  coming  one,  whom  the  ages  had  been 
expecting:  and  when  they  had  attained  to  a  certainty  re- 
specting his  personality;  then  and  not  before  he  had  re- 
vealed to  tliein  the  coming  death.    Thenceforward  this  was 


208  SKETCHES  FROM   THE   LIFE  OK  JESUS. 

almost  his  sole  theme:  he  emphasized,  and  repeated  and 
reiterated  this  one  thing,  and  dwelt  upon  it  in  every  variety 
of  inculcation.  All  had  refused,  like  Peter,  to  entertain  the 
idea,  and  they  had  never  heard  him  so  stern  and  over- 
whelming- in  lebuke,  for  their  not  receiving  his  words,  as  in 
this  instance. 

They  were  in  this  very  attitude  of  mind  at  this  present: 
the  view  of  the  agonizing,  shameful  end,  actually  introduced 
into  their  souls  a  doubt  of  his  being  what  they  had  under- 
stood him  to  be.  and  .what  himself  claimed  to  be.  They 
were  balancing  in  their  minds  whether  he  could  be  put  to 
death,  and  yet  be  the  Christ.  A  state  of  doubt  about  mat- 
ters of  vital  importance  is  the  most  horrid  condition  in 
which  men  ever  find  themselves:  and  this  was  just  their 
])ostiire.  No1  that  they  meditated  the  abandonment  of  the 
Master:  but  their  faith  had  encountered  a  rude  shock,  and 
it  was  staggered  for  a  time. 

2.  Another  cause  of  their  unbelief  was  listening  to  the 
subtle  questionings  of  the  scribes,  who  were  ready  to  im- 
prove every  sign  of  defeat  with  remorseless  ])ersistency. 
Sceptics  possess  what  the  French  call  la  maladie  de  ques- 
tion. Asking  questions  interminably  is  a  disease.  Believ- 
ing that  the  Xazarene  prophet  was  a  partner  with  Tieelze- 
bub,  they  could  ask  more  questions  in  a  breath,  than  could 
be  answered  in  a  day.  Confidence  in  their  Master  once 
wavering,  could  never  be  restored  by  listening  to  the  quib- 
bles of  gainsayers:  but  the  scribes  probably  had  the  at- 
tention of  the  crowd :  and  for  a  time  were  masters  of  the 
situation.  r. 

During  the  contest,  a  throng  of  curious  and  keen  ob- 
servers had  sui-rounded  them,  eager  to  catch  eveiy  word; 
now  applauding  some  (juibble  of  the  scribes,  and  again 
some  rejoinder  of  the  disciples.  Their  intei-est  at  length 
slackened,  however,  as  it  became  more  evident  that  the 
disciples  were  unable  to  relieve  the  lad.  Tiie  expectation 
of  beholding  a  miracle,  which  had  concentrated  the  multi- 
tude, having  failed,  the  crowd  was  falling  to  pieces.  Defeat 
was  patent  and  acknowledged:  and  the  company  losing  its 
cohesiveness  was  scattering. 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  209 

At  this  juncture,  the  Master  appeared,  emerg-iug-  from 
«ome  forest  or  ravine,  through  which  he  was  descending- 
the  mountain.  The  opportuneness  of  his  arrival,  at  the 
very  moment  when  his  presence  was  demanded,  produced  a 
deep  impression;  as  though  while  absent  he  had  been  aware 
of  all  that  had  been  passing,  and  had  timed  his  movements 
to  suit  the  circumstances  exactly.  Had  he  appeared  eai'lier, 
the  deficiency  of  the  disciples  had  not  been  revealed ;  had 
he  waited  longer,  an  opportunity  had  been  lost. 

His  return  was  greeted  with  enthusiasm ;  and  as  he  ap- 
proached, the  multitude  ran  towards  him.  and  instinctively 
<lid  reverence.  Bowing  to  the  earth  before  him,  every  voice 
was  hushed ;  and  as  they  looked,  the  stillness  of  awe  was 
upon  all ;  and  the  solemnity  of  the  unseen  gathered  over 
them.  When  he  asked  of  the  scribes:  '"What  question  ye 
with  them?"  none  could  answer.  The  disciples  were  dumb, 
as  being  weighed  in  the  balances  and  found  wanting.  We 
are  at  a  loss  to  account  for  the  spell  which  his  presence 
produced.  Never  was  a.  crowd  disorderly  before  him;  never 
were  gibes  and  ribaldry,  the  constant  accompaniment  of 
large  promiscuous  gatherings,  rife  where  he  was;  jeers  and 
laughter  subsided  at  once  before  him  ;  and  the  people  be- 
came as  orderly  as  when  in  the  temple. 

It  may  be  that  the  occuri-ences  of  the  night  past,  when 
"'his  decease,  which  he  should  accomplish  at  Jerusalem." 
bad  been  vividly  brought  before  him,  had  lent  a  sadder, 
tenderer,  diviner  majesty  to  his  countenance;  and  the  pros- 
pect of  the  resultant  glory  was  stamping  itself  upon  his 
person.  He  had  been  reenacting  the  covenant  made  with 
the  Father  before  the  world  was.  His  heart  was  burning 
with  a  fire  which  waters  could  not  quench,  nor  floods  drown. 
He  had  given  himself  anew  for  the  salvation  of  sinners. 
This  consecration  elevated  him  higher,  than  the  etei-nal 
throne  could  do.  The  stamp  was  perha,ps  u]>on  his  features, 
and  gave  them  their  illumination.  After  a  (considerable 
pause,  which  none  were  bold  enough  to  break,  the  father 
of  whom  we  have  spoken,  unattended  by  his  son,  whom 
force  alone  could  bring  into  the  Master's  presence,  came 
and  kneeled  before  him,  as  recognizing  the  divine  in  him, 
and  said:  "Master,  1  have  brought  unto  thee  my  son, 
-14 


210  SKET(  HES   FKOM   THE    LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

wliicli  liatli  a  (Iniiib  spirit;  and  wliPi-esoever  he  taketh  him, 
he  teai-eth  him;  and  lie  foameth,  and  gnasheth  with  his 
teeth,  and  pineth  away:  and  1  spake  to  thy  disciples  that 
they  should  east  him  out,  and  they  eould  not.'' 

The  evidence  of  the  presence  of  a  malign  spirit  with  the 
lad  was  found  in  the  selection  of  the  moments  for  the 
attack  of  his  disease.  They  seem  to  have  been  chosen 
with  a  jjurpose  of  self-desti'uction.  The  patient,  probably 
having-  some  forewarning  of  the  ai)proach  of  the  fit,  has- 
tened to  place  himself  where,  falling,  he  would  be  in  jeop- 
ardy of  his  life.  The  demoniac  agency  was  demonstiated 
more  clearly  by  the  boy's  voluntary  and  presistent  dumb- 
ness. Having  the  organs  of  hearing  and  speech  in  normal 
condition,  he  utterly  I'efused  to  make  use  of  them;  and  so 
had  lapsed  into  a  state  of  stupidity,  which  made  his'  life 
but  little  superior  to  that  of  some  low  order  of  brutes. 

The  constant  vigilance,  denianded  for  the  preservation  of 
his  life,  was  not  so  wearing  as  the  parental  yearning  over 
the  sad  condition  of  an  only  child.  The  Saviors  leply  to 
the  sorrowful  tale  was  not  hasty  and  petulant,  as  the  words 
would  indicate  if  connng  from  the  li])s  of  a  man.  "O  faith- 
less generation,  how  long  shall  1  be  with  you?  How  long- 
shall  1  suffer  you?"  They  were  evidently  uttered  in  view 
of  the  unbelief  of  the  disciples  primarily.  They  had,  by  their 
own  confession,  seen  enough  to  convince  them,  that  their 
Master  was  the  Christ  of  (iod.  -\11  donl)t  of  it  had  been 
dispelled  by  incontrovertible  proof.  Yesterday  they  had 
been  standing  as  pillars  of  rock ;  now  they  were  as  reedsi 
shaken  by  the  wind 

The  Master's  words  were  words  of  just  and  merited  re- 
proof, appropriate  to  all  who  listened;  and  were  not  wasted 
upon  this  waiting;  a])plicant.  The  holy  leader  was  deeply 
grieved  by  the  pievailing  unbelief.  It  may  be  imagined 
also,  that  after  the  night  of  heavenly  elevation,  the  discord 
of  earthly  (questionings  had  a  peculiarly  grating  effect. 
Thei-e  was  a  measureless  descent  from  the  summit  of  eter- 
nal glory  down  to  the  dark  shades  of  ignorance  and  unbe- 
lief. He  was  not  impatient;  he  was  not  tiring  of  his 
undertaking,  nor  abandoning  it;  but  mourning  over  human 
instability,  and  its  readiness  of  defection. 


HIHTORK'AL   AND    DOCTKINAL.  211 

"Bring-  him  unto  nie,"  was  the  command  given  to  the 
father,  who  immediatelj^  attempted  the  task,  which  conld 
be  accomplished  by  superior  streno-tli  only;  and  when  the 
reluctant,  resisting  boy  obtained  the  first  view  of  his  de- 
liverer, he  was  at  once  seized  with  the  most  violent  spasm 
of  his  whole  affliction.  The  sight  of  Jesus  was  the  signal 
for  the  child  to  fall,  and  tear  himself  with  his  own  teeth 
and  nails,  and  against  every  obstriiction  that  was  in  his 
way.  He  "lay  upon  the  ground,  and  wallowed  foaming," 
disclosing  thus  the  nature  of  the  diabolical  influence,  which 
held  possession  of  him.  Every  beholder  became  aware  of 
the  presence  of  an  unseen,  malignant  power  in  full  sway, 
and  i-aging  against  outside  interference;  while  the  sympa- 
thies of  all  present  were  deeph'  moved  at  the  spectacle. 

Jesus,  in  the  meantime,  stood  as  a  cool  observer  of  the 
whole  pi'oceeding,  manifesting  only  the  intorest  of  a  stran- 
ger; and  as  an  ordinary  spectator,  asked  for  information, 
which  he  already  possessed,  in  order  that  the  father,  in  re- 
citing the  sad  facts  of  the  case,  and  feeling  the  hopeless 
misery  of  the  situation,  might  be  assisted  thereby  to  the 
exercise  of  the  necessary  faith.  After  giving  the  mournful 
history,  his  appeal  is  very  touching:  "If  thou  canst  do 
any  thing,  have  compassion  on  us,  and  help  us."  But  the 
Savior,  with  all  his  plentitude  of  power,  moves  not:  Jie  is 
in  no  haste  to  save:  he  waits,  until  the  application  is  made 
with  full  dependence  on  him,  and  with  real  trust.  "The 
eyes  of  the  Lord  run  to  and  fro  through  all  the  earth,  to 
show  himself  strong  in  behalf  of  those  whose  heart  is  per- 
fect toward  him."  In  due  time  our  Lord  replied:  and  his 
reply  was  as  though  he  had  said,  "If:"  don't  put  your  "if" 
to  me,  as  though  it  were  doubtful  whether  my  ability  is 
sufficient:  put  the  if  where  it  really  belongs :  "if  thou  canst 
believe,  all  things  are  possible  to  him  that  believeth."  All 
things  are  possible  to  me,  and  my  power  is  enlisted  for 
him  who  believes. 

Faith  is  confidence  not  for  some  particular  blessing;  but 
confidence  in  a  person :  and  Christ  thus  sus]jends  his  aid 
upon  the  condition  of  this  trust  in  himself:  a  belief  that  he 
is  able,  and  that  he  will  do  what  is  best  in  the  case.  When 
he  pronounced   the  perfect  cure  possible,  and  connected  it 


212  SKETCHES    FKOM    THE    LIFE   OF   JEHUS. 

with,  and  made  it  dependent  on  the  faith  of  the  father;  the 
entire  decision  of  the  case  was  devolved  upon  that  father. 
Faith  is  the  highest  tribute  which  a  creature  can  render; 
and  a  full  and  perfect  faith  can  be  reposed  in  God  only. 

Who  is  this,  who  requires  faith  in  himself  for  "all  things'" 
as  i>ossible  to  him  as  to  God?  who  declares  that  moun- 
tains will  be  removed  by  him  out  of  regard  to  it,  even  the 
snowy  Hermon?  Who  is  this  who  claims  what  God  alone 
<;au  claim ;  and  offers  to  perform  what  God  alone  can 
effect?  As  a  little,  helpless  child  cannot  more  surely  enlist 
a  parent's  efforts  in  his  behalf  than  by  fleeing  to  him  when 
in  want  or  dangei-;  so  faith  brings  God  instantly  to  our 
hel]).  All  the  boundless  attributes  of  the  deit^^  are  engaged 
for  those  who  trust  in  him :  and  who  or  what  can  be 
against  them?    God  is  their's. 

Faith  then  of  coui-se  looks  uptoi'hrist  as  God;  it  places 
liim  on  the  throne  of  the  universe,  and  invests  him  witli 
all  ]iower  in  heaven  and  earth :  it  hears  his  divine  word, 
and  rests  upon  it  with  a  full  and  unquestioning  repose. 
The  loftiest  seraph  in  the  skies  in  his  burning  worship  does 
not  make  a  higher  ascription  to  God,  than  does  the  humble 
sinner,  who  trusts  in  Christ  on  earth. 

Tliis  father  had  a  degree  of  faith  in  Jesus,  suffi(tient  to 
induce  him  to  make  application  to  him  as  divine.  ( )ur  Lord 
had  not  been  in  this  region  before;  but  the  fame  of  his  mighty 
works  had  penetrated  to  the  remotest  corner  of  the  land ; 
and  of  all  his  mii-acles  the  expulsion  of  devils  was  gener- 
ally' considered  the  most  i-emarkable:  and  the  reports  of  it 
wei-e  widely  disseminated.  When  there  is  but  one  helper  in 
the  unive'rse.  our  attention  is  directed  to  that  one  with  in- 
tensity: and  is  not  distracted  by  ex])ectations  from  any 
other.  This  man  was  (compelled  to  look  to  Jesus  alone, 
and  was  aware,  that  all  depended  on  his  own  faith:  but  he 
had  great  i-easons  for  discouragement,  in  the  failure  of  the 
dis(tiples,  who  seem  never  befoi-e  to  have  met  with  defeat 
in  such  a  case.  He  must  likewise  have  been  much  depressed 
In'  the  subtleties  of  the  mocking,  blasheming  scribes.  Such 
suggestions  revive  the  unbelieving  questions  of  our  own 
hearts,  to  which  it  is  danji'erous  to  listen  at  all. 


HISTOKHWL   ANn    DOCTRINAL.  21^? 

AnotViW  reason  of  distrust  could  be  found  in  the  aggra- 
vated condition  of  the  boy;  who  as  yet  had  been  nothing- 
bett^ered,  but  rather  made  worse.  The  great  cause  of  dis- 
couragement, however,  was  the  nature  of  the  malady  itself, 
which  would  ordinarily  forbid  all  hoi^e.  This  epilepsy  had 
attached  to  him  "of  a  child."  Life-long  ailments  are  too 
deeply  fixed  for  cure;  and  are  invincible  except  by  a  power 
superior  to  nature.  Rooted  in  the  constitution,  fixed  in 
established  habit,  they  defy  removal.  All  these  discourage- 
ments presented  themselves  to  him  and  pressed  him  sore. 
He  felt  their  full  force,  and  a  terrible  conflict  shook  his 
soul.  His  desire  for  the  relief  of  his  boy  amountecP  to  an 
agon3^  He  also  felt  tha.t  Jesus  had  laid  the  entire  responsi- 
bility upon  his  own  agency.  While  with  all  his  heart  he 
desired  to  trust,  the  shifting  sands  of  unbelief  were  under 
his  feet,  the  suggestions  of  the  enemy  were  in  his  ears,  and 
his  heart  trembled  at  the  fear  of  losing  his  only  opportu- 
nity of  deliverance  for  himself,  and  for  his  child. 

In  this  dire  extremity  what  does  he  do?  He  stands  to 
all  time  as  an  example  of  a  timid,  wavering,  yet  victorious 
faith.  Taking  the  largest  intei-preta.tion  of  the  words  of 
Jesus,  that  ''all  things  are  possible"  at  his  word,  that  he 
possessed  power  over  devils,  disease  and  death,  and  also 
over  the  hearts  of  men,  he  casts  himself  entirely  upon 
Christ,  saying,  as  it  were,  all  power  is  thine ;  do  all  for  me; 
speak  faith  into  me,  and  life  into  my  son;  cast  out  the 
devil  of  unbelief  from  me,  and  the  demon  from  the  child ; 
do  all  the  work  and  have  all  the  glory.  His  appeal  was 
made  with  flowing  tears  and  a  breaking  heart.  Thou; 
makest  the  light,-  and  also  the  eye  fitted  to  receive  God's: 
light;  thou  puttest  the  desired  good  within  our  reach,  and 
givest  us  the  hand  with  which  to  grasp  it;  thou  not  only 
providest  us  the  necessary  food,  but  givest  us  the  organs 
to  receiv^e  and  appro])riate  it.  .lesus  delights  to  do  the 
whole  work  in  every  healing;  he  waits  until  all  other  help- 
ers fail,  and  expectation  from  every  other  source  is  cut  off; 
till  Peter  is  sinking  in  the  waves.  He  suffers  no  partner 
to  divide  the  glory.  In  his  works  he  is  alone.  "I  stretch 
out  the  heavens  by  myself:'"  "of  the  people  there  was 
none  with  me.''    He  saves;   lie  does  not  help  save, 


214  SKKTCHES    FROM    THE    f.IFE   OF   JESUS. 

The  ])i-ayer  of  tliis  man  remains  as  a  model  to  all 
siiceeedii)g-  ages:  ''Lord  I  believe;  hel])  thou  my  un- 
belief.'- I  must,  I  svill.  Help  me  to  say,  I  can.  I  do  be- 
lieve." This  is  the  opportunity  for  which  the  great  helper 
is  waiting.  "He  is  exalted  to  give  repentance,"  as  well  as 
"i-emission  of  sins."  He  gives  "every  grace,  that  brings  us 
nigli."  An  appeal  to  him  is  never  fruitless :  no  beggar  was 
ever  turned  away  empty  from  his  door.  The  Savior  was 
wniting  for  this  request,  and  immediately  commanded  the 
]K)ssessing  demon  out  and  forever  out. 

.Ml  the  ordinary  works  of  our  Lord  Avere  performed  in- 
stantly, except  the  expulsion  of  demons.  In  those  cases 
theie  was  always  delay.  In  the  present  exorcism  the  final 
spnsm,  attended  with  a  piercing  cry,  was  seemingly  fatal. 
The  bystanders  said,  "he  is  dead;"  so  violent  was  the  pai- 
oxysm,  and  so  motionless  and  (]uiet  lay  the  lad,  and  for 
.so  long  a  time.  lUit  Jesus  took  him  b^'  the  hand,  and  he 
ai'ose:  and  was  free  from  the  dreadful  possession,  and  so 
continued  to  the  end  of  life.  Consideiing  these  last  phe- 
nomena, the  conviction  is  unavoidable  that  a  real  power. 
of  intense  malignity  and  rebellion,  was  in  this  case  con- 
tending against  him,  who  came  to  destroy-  the  works  of 
the  devil.  Whether  such  cases  yet  exist,  is  not  so  easily 
decided.  This  boy,  always  before  a  burden  of  anxiety  to 
friends,  became  a  comfort  and  a  J03':  his  life,  before  worse 
than  a  blank,  became  bi-ight  with  ])romise  and  full  of  hoi)e. 

It  is  interesting  to  remark  how  ready  Jesus  was  to  hear 
the  application  of  parents  foi-  their  children,  and  of  friends 
for  those  dear  to  tlu.ni.  Such  histories  abound  in  the  gos- 
pels. This  lad  was  incaiJable  of  making  application  for 
liimself,  and  more  indisposed  than  unable;  but  in  his  father 
he  had  a  friend  to  whom  he  was  dear  as  life.  Jesus  looked 
for  no  petition  from  the  boy,  and  demanded  of  him  no 
faith.  He  knew  a  fathei-'s  pity;  it  was  like  his  own.  It  is 
a  spark  of  the  mighty  flame  in  his  own  breast.  He  is  a 
leather,  and  those  who  come  to  him  are  his  little  children. 

Intercession  is  a  work  kindred  to  his  own  great  under- 
taking. It  may  possibly  be  said  with  truth;  that  lie  was 
more  ready  to  listen  to  such  apjJications  than  to  others. 
Certain  it  is  that  none  such  failed  of  success:   and  that  he 


HlST(>RI('Af>    AND    DOCTKINAI..  215 

i-outrived  to  meet  sucli,  and  put-  himself  iii  their  way  as 
thoiig-h  hastenino'  to  a  coveted  appointment:  find  showed 
himself  more  eager  to  meet  them,  than  they  were  to  find 
him ;  fr-equently  making  long  circuits  to  accomplish  his 
]>urpose  of  mercy,  as  in  this  very  case. 

When  the  discomfited  disciples  asked  of  the  Savior  in 
]>rivate  ''why  could  not  we  cast  him  out?"'  he  intimated 
to  them,  that  while  the  malignant  sj)irit  in  this  instance 
Avas  of  an  intractable  class;  yet  a  clear  and  lively  faith 
would  have  surely  been  victorious  in  this,  as  in  every 
other  confiict;  and  that  this  faith,  once  wavering  or  lost, 
could  be  regained  only  by  prayer  and  fasting.  The  most 
profound  humiliation  and  the  deepest  agony  of  desire  will 
always  bring  from  above  an  increase  of  faith,  and  an  ac- 
<'ess  of  divine  strength  to  the  soul,  of  which  the  father  in 
this  history  stands  an  impressive  example.  The  most 
staunch  believer  needs  a  frequent  renewal  of  his  trust  dur- 
ing the  trying  vicissitudes  of  life;  and  entrance  upon  new 
and  arduous  duties  requires  new  and  additional  equipment 
of  spiritual  strength,  for  their  discharge  without  failure. 

The  day  appears  to  have  been  considerably  advanced, 
when  our  Lord  came  down  from  the  mount  of  transfigura- 
tions: showing  that  the  memorable  scene,  which  had  thei*e 
transpired,  had  occupied  the  greater  part  of  the  night. 
The  brief  account  left  us  is  but  a  faint  sketch  of  the  only 
glimmer  of  glory  let  down  from  the  skies  upon  the  path- 
way of  the  man  of  sorrows.  Himself  needed  no  such  rev- 
elation for  his  own  personal  assurance,  it  was  vouchsafed 
for  the  instruction  and  strengthening  of  the  disciples  in 
their  condition  of  overwhelming  perplexity  and  doubt, 
stunned  as  they  were  by  the  emphatic  announcement  of 
the  mournful  termination  of  their  master's  career.  That 
the  sun,  which  had  arisen  so  gloriously,  should  set  in  blood, 
staggered  their  faith,  agonized  their  hearts,  and  disap- 
pointed their  hopes.  It  is  not  easy  for  us  to  appi'eciate 
their  revulsion  of  feeling  from  the  heights  of  the  most  san- 
g:uine  anticipation,  to  the  horrors  of  the  rejection  and  the 
crucifixion.  Tiiat  their  faith  was  sorely  tried  is  evident, 
and  that  they  had  not  adjusted  themselves  to  the  new 
view  of  the  outcome,  and  indeed  could  not  receive  it,  nor 
did  they  accept  it,  until  the  full  blaze  of  gospel  glory 
shone  into  their  souls. 


216  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE   OF  JESIS. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 


THE  PENITENT  HARLOT,    LUKE  vii ;  36, 


This  woman  has  long,-  been  confounded  with  Mary  Mag- 
dalene, whose  name  occurs  for  the  first  time,  immediately 
after  this  history.  Magdala  also  was  in  the  near  vicinity 
of  Xain,  where  Jesus  was  at  the  last  mention.  Both  are 
spoken  of  as  beino-  eminent  examples  of  a  tendei'  love  for 
the  [Master,  excelling-  ordinary  believers  in  the  effusiveness- 
and  strength  of  their  affection.  While  in  the  cases  thus  far 
there  is  a  similarity,  thei-e  seems  no  real  scriptural  au- 
thority for  identifying  them  as  the  same  individual,  uidess 
the  description  of  the  Magdalene,  ''out  of  whom  went  seven 
devils,"  be  understood  as  spoken  figuratively.  Jesus,  in 
another  passage,  has  thus  described  the  person  who  is 
given  up  of  God.  He  is  himself  using  figurative  language 
when  he  says:  '"Then  goeth  he  and  taketh  with  himself 
seven  other  spirits  more  wicked  than  himself,  and  they  enter 
in  and  dwell  there;  and  the  last  state  of  that  man  is  worse 
than  the  first."  If  these  words  afford  the  clue  to  the  in- 
terpretation of  the  description  of  the  Magdalene,  she  may 
have  been  this  woman,  possessed  by  the  grossest  and  most 
bestial  of  lusts:  as  bj-' indwelling  demons  within  sight  and 
liearing  of  i)erdition:  rescued  by  -Jesus  from  the  lowest  pit 
of  evil  on  earth. 

No  deeper  debasement  can  be  conceived  than  that  of  the 
female,  who  yields  herself  to  the  gratification  oi  the  fiercest 
and  most  brutal  lusts  of  the  other  sex.  She  becomes  a 
•levil  indeed,  and  worse  than  the  men  she  serves.  No  crime 
is  too  lieinous  for  her  conscience.  Her  hands  grapple  those 
that  yield  to  hei-  as  with  hooks  of  steel;  and  she  becomes 
the  devil's  tongs  by  which  he  seizes  his  prey ;  to  put  them 
into  the  burning  furnaie  of  perdition,  where  the  breath  of 
(lod's  anjicr  is  the  blast.     ''Her  house  is  the  wav  to  hell: 


HISTORICAL    AND   DOCTRINAL.  21  7 

none  that  ^o  unto  her  evei-  return."  The  man  that  ven- 
tures finds  hiniseh'  hke  the  fly  in  the  spider's  web;  entan- 
ji;led  with  influences  from  which  there  is  no  escape.  Those, 
whom  God  abandons,  are  "'g-iven  up  to  these  vile  affections; 
as  is  thrice  stated  in  the  first  chapter  of  Eomans.  Ordina- 
ril3^  there  remains  foi'  such  no  room  for  repentance,  and 
no  hope. 

This  woman  was  not  only  one  of  those  who  never  return  ; 
but  she  had  gone  the  full  leng'th ;  guilty  of  sins  which  in 
woman,  the  world  never  forgives.  She  had  been  devoteji  to 
the  perdition  of  souls;  endowed  with  beauty  to  attract, 
and  fascinations  to  beguile  and  bind  her  victims.  Once  she 
was  the  fond  delight  of  doting  parents  and  friends,  filling- 
fi  home  with  her  sweet  music,  enlivening-  gloom  by  the  sun- 
light of  her  presence,  and  driving  away  care  by  her  buoy- 
ancy, a  comfort  and  a  joy  to  all  interested  in  her.  Over 
her  hearts  had  throbbed;  and  for  her  prayers  had  as- 
cended. Oh  what  a  fall  from  the  heights  of  innocence  into 
the  mire  of  pollution,  to  become  an  agent  of  Satan  for  de- 
struction !  Earth  has  no  name  foul  enough  for  the  minis- 
ters of  hell,  male  and  female;  but  among  them  the  woman 
takes  the  precedence;  as  she  descends  to  the  dee])est  infamy; 
and  caters  most  terribly  to  evil.  Her  very  person  is  con- 
tagion, and  her  mission  is  the  damnation  of  others. 

If  ever  a  sane  human  being  can  be  said  to  be  possessed 
of  seven  devils,  she  merits  the  description.  Life  is  a  burden; 
but  death  has  terrors  too  fearful  to  be  courted.  Kvery 
breath  is  drawn  in  a  sense  of  unfitness  to  live.  The  world 
scorns  her,  the  innocent  flee  from  her,  friends  disown  her, 
heaven  condems  her,  the  devil  possesses  her,  the  blackness 
of  darkness  envelops  her,  and  all  influences  for  good  have 
ceased.  If  there  is  a  hopeless  case  on  earth  it  is  the  case 
of  such  a  one  Jesus  Christ  can  forgive  where  men  never 
condone,  where  the  world  refuses  pity  even.  An  outcast 
from  all  the  compassions  of  men  is  not  ,beyond  the  reach 
of  the  mercy  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  selected  this  very  case 
to  exhibit  the  greatness  of  his  grace. 

1.  Sinners  of  all  classes  were  wonderfully  affected  by  the 
presence  of  Jesus :  like  the  demoniac  they  could  not  keep 
away  from   him.      "Then  drew  near  unto  him  all  the  pub- 


218  h^KKH  Hi:><    FKO.M    THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

licans  and  siniiei's  for  to  liear  hiiu."  while  the  Scribes  and 
Pharisees  stood  aloof  and  miirinured.  They  were  attracted 
as  the  faniishin<i'  are  to  the  pros])ects  of  food,  or  the  thirsty 
to  the  fountain.  They  felt  that  in  him  was  something-,  that 
answered  to  the  deep  necessities  of  their  s])ii-itiial  nature: 
and  promised  a  supjilj'  to  their  acknowledo^ed  want.  It  was  no 
magic  or  impostui-e  that  attracted:  it  was  simply  what  he  was. 
It  may  have  l)een  hard  for  them  to  give  account  or  reason 
for  their  irresistible  attraction;  but  the  fact  remained.  To 
the. very  centre  of  their  being  they  were  shaken  by  contact 
with  him:  and  no  other  influence  in  the  wide  world  could 
so  move  them.  Not  only  the  gross  and  hardened  malefac- 
tor that  died  at  his  side,  not  only  the  debased  and  aban- 
doned woman  of  this  sketch :  but  the  men  of  the  highest 
culture  and  most  advanced  civilization,  and  nicest  sensi- 
bility like  Xicodemus  and  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  felt.  The 
close-fisted,  hard-hearted  Zaccheus  and  the  ignorant  woman 
of  Sychar  alike  responded  to  the  touch  of  his  personality. 
At  sight  of  him  every  one  felt  that  there  was  a  God  of 
holiness,  and  heaven  of  pui'ity.  Few  could  endure  the  view 
of  him,  because  it  set  home  to  their  hearts  a  sense  of  sin. 

The  fable  that  the  beasts  of  the  field  did  reverence  to 
him  as  he  was  being  conve^^ed  to  Egypt,  and  that  the 
palm-trees  bowed  to  him  their-  lofty  fruit,  was  more  than 
realized  in  the  fact  that  the  hearts  of  men  bowed  to  him, 
and  were  stirred  to  their  depth  at  his  presence.  Diseases, 
devils  and  death  knew  their  Lord :  and  equally  did  the 
souls  of  his  own  creation  throb  with  an  involuntary  recog- 
nition. The  sight  of  i,  perfect  and  more  than  celestial  purity 
left  no  spectators  indifferent.  Those  who  weie  wounded 
with  a  sense  of  sin.  could  no  moi'e  kee])  away  from  .fesus 
of  Nazareth  than  the  ])lanets  can  break  fi-om  their  attach- 
ment to  the  sun  :  than  the  rivers  can  stay  in  their  rush  to 
the  sea.  Multitudes  were  ready  to  forsake  all  for  him  ;  and 
those  who  did  not  welcome  his  piesenc-e,  were  just  as'far 
from  indiffeience  and  were  as  much  ex<'ited,  but  to  hatred 
and  opposition. 

'2.  She  li;id  correct  views  of  (^hrist;  she  had  caught  a 
glimpse  of  his  ineffable  purity:  not  only  stainless,  but  in- 
capable of  stain.     He  was  in  1  he  likeness  of  sinful  flesh,  but 


HISTOKK  AL    ANI>   UOCTKINAL.  219 

.separate  from  yiiiiiers  farther  than  heaven  is  from  earth. 
His  imiiiaciilate  excellence  was  superangelic.  It  was  the  un- 
created lustre  of  divine  beauty.  In  the  words  of  Daniel, 
he  was  "the  Holy  of  Holies."  Evil  could  nevei'  penetrate 
within  the  veil  of  his  sanctity.  Therefore  he  was  just  what 
he  professed  to  be,  and  what  his  works  declared  him  to 
be.  The  inii-acle  just  wrought  in  Nain  ])roclaimed  him  "the 
resurrection  and  the  life."  When  he  so  calmly  appealed  to 
,  God  as  father,  and  spoke  of  himself  as  the  only  begotten  son, 
she  unhesitatingly  admitted  the  claim  with  all  its  conse- 
<iueuces.  With  her,  all  was  intuition,  without  process  of 
logic;  she  saw  and  felt.  To  her,  he  was  the  incarnate 
glory ;  the  light  of  the  world,  the  light  of  the  soul,  the 
physician  of  the  heart,  the  shepherd  seeking  his  lost  ones. 
Henceforth  her  life  was  to  be  inseparable  from  him.  This 
was  not  matter  of  reasoning;  the  demands  of  her  being 
required  it.  She  could  more  easily  cease  to  live,  than  tear 
herself  from  him. 

She  was  in  the  Pharisee's  house  by  sufferance,  being  well 
aware  that  the  ])ollution  of  her  presence  could  never  have 
been  allowed,  except  on  that  day  when  Simon  kept  open  house; 
knowing  it  to  be  impossible  to  repress  the  crowd  that  fol- 
lowed him  whom  he  entertained.  She  had  stood  for  a  time 
with  bowed  head  in  speechless  sorrow  at  the  feet  of  Jesus, 
behind  him  as  he  lay  at  the  table;  unworthy  to  speak  her 
desire,  or  call  his  attention  to  herself;  and  had  soon  knelt 
over  them,  to  be  better  out  of  sight  of  eyes  that  loathed 
her;  shed  an  agony  of  tears  in  full  shower  upon  those 
sacred  feet,  which  she  wiped  with  the  hairs  of  her  head, 
anointing  tliem  with  the  ointment  which  had  been  an  ac- 
companiment of  ^her  sinful  life.  With  inward  groans  and 
mute  breakings  of  heart,  she  continued  as  though  her  head 
were  waters,  and  her  eyes  fountains  of  tears.  Before  her 
mind  wei'e  passing  in  long  array  the  remembrances  of  early 
life  and  religious  teaching,  followed  by  the  hideous  spectres 
of  her  subsequent  history :  of  the  evil  done  to  her  by  her 
own  consent,  and  the  evil  she  had  done  to  others.  A  court 
had  been  instituted  in  her  bosom;  and  the  judgment  of  God 
was  issuing  against  her. 


220  SKETCHES   FROM    THE   lAFK   OF  JESUS. 

There  ai-e  times  wlieii  the  judgment  within  is  as  righteous, 
and  as  certain,  and  as  terrible  as  at  the  great  assize  of 
eternity;  and  thus  it  was  with  her.  Her  appalling  guilt 
was  being  written  by  the  finger  of  doom  upon  the  walls  of 
memory:  and  all  the  scenes  of  her  life  rose  with  fearful 
•listinetness,  to  declare  her  not  onh'  outcast  from  earth, 
but  from  heaven.  To  him  she  clung:  for  she  felt  that  in 
him  was  mercy  and  hope  for  her:  clung  as  the  drowning- 
man  does  to  the  plank. 

3.  We  cannot  but  be  stru(-k  by  the  modesty,  propriety 
and  good  taste  displayed  in  the  whole  conduct  of  this 
woman,  in  what  must  have  been  to  her  the  most  trying- 
j)Osition.  Indeed  a  real  and  unfeigned  humility  is  the 
parent  of  ease,  propriety  and  grace  of  behavior  in  the 
most  embarrassing  circumstances;  as  well  as  the  brightest 
ornament  of  the  spirit  in  God's  sight.  She  suffered  her- 
self to  be  spoken  of  and  treated  as  a  gi'eat  sinner  and 
most  unworthy  person,  without  manifesting  the  least  re- 
sentment. He  that  can  accept  a  harsh  judgment  against 
himself  without  offence,  is  "huiiible  under  the  mighty  hand 
of  God."  All  the  world's  condemnation  of  her  was  not  as 
severe  as  her  own  condemnation  of  herself;  the  world's  re- 
jection was  not  as  bitter  as  her  own  verdict  against  her- 
self. Did  man  crush  her  to  the  lowest  point,  she  could  ''re- 
joice in  that  she  is  made  low;""  and  place  herself  still  lower 
before  God.  She  can  hear  condemnation  without  a  mur- 
mui',  while  her  own  heart  echoes  it  with  redoubled  empha- 
sis: without  an  attempt  to  throw  off  blame  upon  others. 
She  kneels  behind  th^.  Savior  as  a  sinner  unworthy  to  at- 
tract his  eye,  and  slinks  as  far  as  possible  out  of  sight, 
that  she  may  not  intrude  to  the  disgust  of  the  host,  or 
gain  the  attention  of  any  at  the  table.  She  stifles  her 
groans,  and  beyond  the  reach  of  observation  pours  out 
her  sorrows  where  none  but  he  knows. 

She  is,  as  it  were,  alone  with  Jesus,  unconscious  as  it 
were  of  the  scrutiny  of  others,  obhvious  of  all  but  his 
])resence.  Her  only  hope  lay  in  the  mysterious  l)eing  with 
whom  she  was  mutely  pleading,  lesigned  to  his  decision, 
approving  his  severest  judgment,  yet  hoping  for  pardon 
and  acceptance.    Self  is  the  idol  in  our  souls  which  eclipses 


HISTORICAL    AM)   DOCTRINAL.  '221 

God  and  our  fellowiiien :  when  tlii.s  idol  i^  thrown  down  w^ 
can  do  justice  to  both  God  and  men.  Humility  puts  God 
upon  the  throne,  and  esteems  every  man  as  better  than 
ourselves. 

We  are  then  in  our  true  position :  and  a  deep  and 
strang-e  happiness  arises  in  our  hearts.  If  we  weep  for  sin. 
a  strang-e  joy  miuoles  with  the  tears;  and  there  is  healing- 
in  the  waters  of  true  repentance;  if  we  look  up  to  God  it 
is  to  cast  every  crown  at  his  feet ;  and  to  feel  that  he  is 
"our  exceeding  J03';"'  if  we  look  to  our  fellowmen  it  is  to 
love  them  as  we  love  ourselves.  To  produce  this  state  of 
mind  the  severest  agonies  are  necessary,  the  most  crushing 
judgments  of  heaven,  and  the  most  terrible  dealings  of  the 
Holy  spirit;  but  when  it  once  takes  place;  no  sight  is  com- 
parable in  view  of  heaven  with  that  of  a  sinner  retui-ning 
from  his  ways.  Angels  rejoice;  Jesus  Christ  sees  of  the 
travail  of  his  soul  and  is  satisfied;  and  the  great  God  "re- 
joices over  them  with  singing."  This  woman  was  in  the 
very  crisis  of  the  new  birth ;  and  was  unconsciously  hoping 
in  the  mercy  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  declares  that  she  had 
faith.  Repentance  and  faith  ever  go  together.  True  re- 
pentance is  not  remorse,  conviction,  horror;  but  love 
weeping  over  our  ingratitude,  and  "loathing  ourselves  for 
our  doings  which  were  not  good."  It  is  not  so  much 
the  weeping  before  pardon ;  as  the  tears  which  accom- 
pany it,  and  denote  our  loving  grief  for  our  offences 
against  the  Savior  of  our  souls. 

While  this  scene  was  progressing,  the  Pharisee  looked  on 
with  scornful  eyes.  Not  being  a  sinner,  he  knew  nothing 
of  his  illustrious  guest.  He  was  debating  in  his  own 
thoughts,  whether  he  were  a  prophet  at  all,  and  coming  to 
an  adverse  conclusion.  If  he  were  a  prophet,  he  was  saying 
to  himself,  he  would  know  what  manner  of  woman  this  is 
that  toucheth  him.  Phariseeism,  having  no  need  of  a 
Savior,  knows  him  not ;  if  it  tolerate  Jesus,  it  is  only  as  a 
prophet;  it  cannot  think  of  assigning  him  an3'  higher 
office  or  function.  He  had  invited  Jesus  to  his  house  to 
dinner,  but  had  not  received  him  with  that  coui'tesy,  which 
he  would  have  shown  to  a  common  friend. 


'222  SKETCHES    FKO.M    THE    EIFE    OF   JESUS. 

Jesus  went  where  he  was  not  treated  with  ordinary  civil- 
ty.  The  tirst  need  of  a-  <>uest  in  tliat  hot  and  dusty  cli- 
mate is  water  foi'  his  feet,  his  sandals  having  been  left  at 
the  door.  He  is  then  welcomed  with  a  kiss,  and  perfumed 
ointment  is  poured  u])on  his  head.  All  this  had  been 
studiously  tmd  coldly  omitted  in  his  case.  Simon  did  not 
know  his  ouest;  but  this  outcast  woiujin  did  know  him. 
All  his  reli<>'ious  education  and  syna,iiO<iue  privile<ie.  with 
the  wonderful  mii'acle  wrought  under  his  eyes,  can  im])art 
no  spiritual  perception  to  a  man  who  does  not  know  that 
he  is  a  sinnei".  Chiist  is  seen  only  through  a  lens  of  tears. 
He  that  has  no  sins  to  wash  away,  no  soul  to  save,  has 
no  room  for  Christ  in  the  inn  of  his  heart,  or  tlie  creed  of 
his  understanding.  The  gospel  is  a  telescope  to  show  Christ 
in  his  glory  and  beauty:  but  the  eye-piece  is  placed  so  low, 
that  our  eyes  cannot  be  got  in  line,  except  as  we  are  lying 
in  the  dust. 

4.  She  had  been  forgiven  freely.  IJke  the  chief  debtor 
in  the  parable,  which  our  Savior  sp(jke,  she  had  nothing 
to  pay.  Christ  introduced  it  with  a  call  to  Simon :  "  I 
have  something  to  say  unto  thee,"  something  special  and 
personal  to  thyself.  And  he  said:  "Master  nay  on."  Then 
follows  the  parable.  In  those  days  a  creditor  could  im])rison 
a  debtor  for  life:  or  sell  him,  and  if  need  be,  his  family 
into  bondage;  but  this  creditor  frankly  forgave  the  debt, 
demanding  no  consideration  in  return.  After  this  manner 
was  Chi-ist's  forgiveness  of  the  en-ing  woman.  He  took  his 
])ay  in  gratitude  and  love. 

He  is  seeking  tho  e  who  arc  in  the  deei)est  and  direst 
necessities,  whose  wants  are  of  killing  urgency',  and  granting 
them  the  greatest  conceivable  mercies,  just  to  gain  true 
love.  He  hungers  for  love,  to  be  the  object  of  the  most 
intense  and  gushing  affection :  and  he  secures  it  by  lavish- 
ing salvation  upon,  the  blackest  children  of  perdition,  who 
will  love  him  more  than  angels  can.  with  a  love  responsive 
to  his  own.  and  like  it  immeasurabliv  He  is  jn-eparing 
those  who  will  sing  a  song  that  angels  cannot  learn.  This 
woman  was  foT'given  nc>t  because  she  loved,  but  because 
she  believed:  and  received  salvation  without  money  and 
without  price.     Here  was  a.  singer  trained  to  warble  a  note 


HISTORICAL   AND   I)0(T1{1.\AT>.  223 

ill  the  everlastinjj,"  song-,  that  will  inelt  the  soul  of  every 
listener,  fill  heaven  with  astoiiishmeiit,  and  bring  joy  to 
him  who  redeemed  it  with  blood,  his  own  blood.  How  di- 
rect and  personal  is  Jesus  in  eveiy  word !  though  uttered 
in  divine  kindness,  each  is  a  stab  to  the  heart.  "I  entered 
into  thy  house,  thou  gavest  me  no  water  for  my  feet;  but 
she  has  washed  my  feet  with  tears,  and  wiped  them  with 
the  hairs  of  her  head:  ihoii  gavest  me  no  kiss:  but  thm 
woman,  since  the  time  I  came  in:  hath  not  ceased  to  kiss 
my  feet:  my  head  with  oil  thou  didst  not  anoint:  hut  this 
woman  hath  anointed  my  feet  with  ointment.  Wherefore 
I  say  unto  thee,  her  sins  which  are  many  are  forgiven;  for" 
or  therefore,  'she  loved  much.''  "Who  is  this  that  for- 
giveth  sins  also?'"  ran  as  a  murmur  through  the  hearts  of 
all  at  the  table,  Simon's  included;  but  there  was  one  that 
knew  that  he  had  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins;  that  at 
his  word  spiritual  health  and  joy  visited  the  sin-sick  soul; 
that  its  wounds  were  healed,  and  the  pulse  of  heavenly  life 
commenced  to  beat.  She  knew  that  he  could  not  onh^  call 
to  life  the  corpse  at  the  door  of  the  sepulchre,  but  impart 
the  new  life  of  love  and  joy  to  the  soul  previously  dead  in 
tresspasses  and  sins.  The  same  power  attended  that  word 
that  had  accom]janied  the  command  to  the  young  man  at 
the  funeral  bier,  to  whom  Jesus  had  said,  "arise." 

Our  Savior  repeated  the  assurance  of  forgiveness  of  sins, 
h\  a  direct  and  positive  announcement  to  the  woman  of 
the  fact ;  that  all  might  understand  that  the  ^vords  were 
not  inadvertently  uttered  ;  but  that  he  deliberately  assumed 
the  right  and  the  power,  than  which  there  is  no  higher. 
He  thereby  put  himself  into  the  very  throne  of  God, 
The  same  faith  secures  cleansing  as  well  as  pardon.  How 
many  have  asked  the  question, — can  one  so  deeplj^  dyed 
in  the  crimson  hue  of  damnation,  ever  be  cleansed?  and 
the  world  unhesitatingly  answers  no.  But  "the  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ,  his  son,  cleanseth  us  from  all   sin.'" 

Were  the  stain  of  every  possible  transgression  known  in 
all  the  annals  of  crime  enstamped  again  and  again,  until 
the  dye  was  deep  as  Satan's  own:  yet  he  can  make  the 
soul  whiter  than  snow;  snow  has  its  impurities;  God's 
cleansing  leaves  none.     The  soul  is  made  pure  as  infancy. 


224  SKETCHES   FROM    THE    LIFE   OF   JESC8. 

Tliere  is  a  story  of  a  beautiful  piece  of  statuary  exhumed 
from  its  hidden  bed  of  centuries  in  the  ruins  of  Rome;  ex- 
quisite, but  fouled  with  the  stain  of  blood :  and  for  its 
cleansing  all  applications  and  expedients  have  been  tried, 
even  to  immersion  in  boiling,-  water;  but  the  foul  l)lot  was 
only  deepened  b^'  each  essay.  The  very  pores  of  the  marble 
had  drunk  the  stain,  until  nothing  short  of  the  destruction 
of  the  relic  could  remove  the  blot.  Such  is  the  stain  of  sin 
penetrating  through  the  pores  of  the  soul,  until  every  fibre 
is  polluted;  but  the  cleansing  blood  can  make  it  clean  and 
white  as  wool. 

There  is  filth  external  to  the  bod3'  which  water  can  re- 
move; and  there  is  an  internal  pollution,  circulating  in  the 
blood,  impregnating  with  its  jjoison  every  portion  of  the 
system,  breaking  out  in  hideous  ulcers;  a  leprosy  vitiating 
by  its  presence  every  part  of  the  structure,  which  no  ex- 
ternal application  can  remove.  It  is  an  internal  impurity 
beyond  the  reach  of  outside  purification:  and  somtimes 
bidding  defiance  to  all  remedies  possible  to  human  science; 
and  promising  a  fatal  termination.  Such  is  sin  deep  in  thr 
very  marrow  of  our  bones,  and  all-pervading,  all-poison- 
ing, tending  to  spiritual  destruction.  "The  blood  of  Christ 
cleanseth."'  Though  the  color  be  set  in  the  very  fabric  of 
our  humanity;  he  can  nmke  the  crimson  to  be  whiter  than 
snow.  We  must  remember  that  the  gospel  is  "the  power 
of  God;"'  that  it  is  "mighty  through  God:'*  that  it  is  the 
exceeding  greatness  of  his  power." 

He  that  can  raise  the  decayed  body  after  its  dust  has 
been  dissi|)ated  for  ^{;ges,  can  i-aise  the  soul  to  newness  of 
life.  God's  omnipotence  is  not  onl^^  physical,  but  moral: 
and  his  spiritual  omnipotence  far  exceeds  in  glory.  There 
are  obligations,  which  he  can  pi'ess  with  the  weight  of  eter- 
nity; there  aie  motives,  which  he  can  mak(^  stronger  than 
the  forces  which  bind  the  universe  together:  through  them 
he  can  breathe  a  joy  to  which  the  soul  will  hasten  sweetly 
to  yield.  The  soul  of  man  is  a  breath  of  his  own  es- 
sence, and  it  can  be  purified  even  as  he  is  pure.  What- 
ever Christ  undertakes,  he  is  able  to  ac(;omplisli.  J^et  us 
not  look  at  the  feeble  hunmnity,  which  is  but  as  cla.y  in 
the  hands  of  the  potter:  let  us  look  at  the  mighty  Savior. 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  225 

Though  she  be  not  only  a  bruised  but  a  broken  reed,  "he  is 
able  to  make  her  stand'"  not  merely  against  the  wind,  but 
the  very  cj^clones  of  temptation. 

But  we  may  well  tremble  to  remember,  that  her  sins 
were  those  of  which  only  the  smallest  number  repent. 
There  is  something  exceedingh-  damning  in  violations  of 
the  seventh  commandment.  They  are  the  flesh  marks  of 
everlasting  perdition:  and  the  slave  of  lust  almost  never 
escapes  from  the  yoke  of  his  bondage.  "He  that  is 
abhorred  of  the  Lord  falls  into  this  deep  ditch."  Thes^^ 
form  the  last  stage  in  the  life  of  one  whom  God  aban- 
dons. The  most  terrible  display  of  hasty  retribution 
which  God  has  ever  made  on  this  earth,  was  in  the  lake 
of  fire  and  brimstone,  which  once  burned,  where  now  rolls 
the  sea  of  dea.th.  If  there  be  no  hell  for  other  sinners, 
there  is  a  lake  of  fire  for  those  guilty  of  the  sins  of  the 
flesh.  Uncleanness  was  the  sin  of  Sodom,  reducing  its  in- 
habitants below  the  level  of  the  brutes,  destroying  all 
spiritual  aspirations,  and  leading  to  damnation  begun 
below. 

No  sinner  need  be  discouraged  from  applying  to  Jesus 
f'hrist,  and  this  history  is  itself  the  greatest  encoui'age- 
ment  afforded  by  the  Master  himself.  There  are  degrees 
of  criminality  and  heinousness.  Any  step  in  the  road  that 
leads  to  the  death  of  the  soul  is  dangerous.  If  this  woman 
went  forward  until  the  smell  of  the  fire  was  on  her  a'ar- 
ments :  and  thence  retraced  her  steps  to  pardon  and  peace, 
her  example  stands  as  a  beacon  of  warning,  as  well  as  a 
light  of  hope.  Christ  will  welcome  the  returning  prodigal, 
if  he  have  spent  all;  he  will  blot  out  transgressi(jns  more 
in  number  than  the  sands  of  the  sea;  but  it  is  presump- 
tion and  madness  to  continue  in  evil,  on  the  slender  hope 
of  a  distant  repentance,  and  salvation  from  the  condem- 
nation, and  power  of  sins  to  which  we  are  daily  adding. 


—15 


226  SKETCHES   1  HO.M   THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


THE  SYROPHENICIAN  WOMAN, 


This  account  funiislies  the  only  instance  in  which  our 
liord  passed  beyond  the  limits  of  Judea.  From  a  combina- 
tion of  the  o'ospel  histories  we  learn  that  he  went  through 
the  teriitory  appertainin,^  to  Tyre  and  Sidon,  and  that 
he  visited  the  latter  city,  passing  through  without  remaining 
lono-.  The  hostility  of  his  enemies  forced  him  continuallv 
to  change  his  location :  and  to  remain.  a«  it  were,  in  con- 
cealment, covering  up  his  course,  and  reappearing  at  unex- 
pected points.  His  yji-oceedings  were  marked  by  the  most 
consummate  prudence,  fulfilling  the  ancient  prophecy.  "His 
object  was  not  to  organize  a  party;  but  to  bring  himself 
clearly  before  ever3'  one  of  the  Jewish  nation,  not  only  in 
the  towns,  but  also  in  the  villages  and  the  remote  and 
secluded  portions  of  the  country;  that  e^•el■y  one  might,  in 
the  enjoyment  of  the  fullest  light,  decide  the  great  question, 
on  which  the  fate  of  the  chosen  nation  depended. 

One  pai't  of  his  eriand  at  this  time  was  to  put  himself 
within  the  reach  of  one  of  his  shep]:»  not  of  the  Isi-aelitish 
ft)ld.  While  he  was  still  in  the  suburbs  of  one  of  these 
cities,  and  before  Ife  had  reached  its  crowded  centre;  he 
suddenly  turned  aside  into  a  house,  and  '"would  have  no- 
man  know  it.'"  Here  it  is  necessary  to  remember  the  style 
of  building  then  universally  prevalent. 

The  house  instead  of  occu])ying  the  front  and  centre  of 
the  lot  as  with  us,  was  built  around  three  sides  of  the  lot,, 
thus  enclosing  the  yard,  whose  back  portion  was  protected 
by  a  high  fence,  secluding  it  from  observation  from  with- 
out entirely.  Upon  this  central  yard  the  windows  and 
doors  of  tlie  house  opened.  Upon  the  street  was  a  blank 
wall  without  o])enings  of  any  kind,  exc.e]it  a  door  or  gate 
cnterino-  an  arched  wav  thi'ough    the    house  into  the  inner 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTKINAL.  227 

yard  or  court,  and  closed  with  a  solid  shutter.  The  view 
of  a  house  from  the  narrow  and  filthy  street  was  desolate 
and  uninviting-  to  the  last  degree ;  while  the  court  within 
might  be  ornamented  with  vines  and  flowers  and  perhaps 
a  fountain,  bright  with  colors  and  fragrant  with  perfumes, 
and  cooled  by  continual  evaporation.  Porches  ran  around 
the  three  sides  of  the  court,  and  not  seldom  awnings 
protecting  them  from  the  too  direct  rays  of  the  summer 
sun.    The  houses  were  of  a  single  story  as  at  this  day. 

Our  Lord  having  entered  with  his  diciples  and  the  few 
who  had  recognized  him  and  followed,  ordei-ed  the  door 
into  the  street  to  be  shut;  and  seemingly  took  all  possible 
precaut'ions  to  prevent  publicity:  "'he  would  have  no  man 
know  it."  Sitting  on  one  of  the  porches  within,  he  was 
teaching  the  little  company  before  him. 

In  these  parts  was  a  woman,  a  Syrophenician,  debaired 
from  personal  attendance  upon  Christ  at  a  distance,  by  her 
lonely  condition,  and  a  living  incumbrance  consisting  of  a 
little  daughter  grievously  vexed  with  a  devil,  that  could  not 
be  entrusted  to  the  care  of  another.  She  had  heard  with  a 
real  faith  of  his  mighty  works,  and  especially  of  his  power 
over  devils;  and  she  believed  him  to  be  the  seed  of  promise, 
the  conqueror  of  Satan,  and  the  Savior  of  the  world.  She 
probably  had  clearer  and  more  scriptural  views  of  him 
than  his  chosen  apostles,  and  possessed  a  faith,  which  once 
fixed  never  wavered.  It  was  submitted  to  the  harshest 
tests,  being  tried  as  by  fire;  but  it  came  out  of  the  ordeal 
bright  and  pure. 

She  had  been  learning  by  daily  report  of  his  approach,  as 
he  drew  nigher  day  by  day;  until  at  last  he  was  in  the 
city,  and  not  far  from  her  dwelling.  A  mighty  gi-atitude 
swelled  her  heart  as  she  learned  the  fact.  Aware  of  his 
presence,  she  was  determined  to  find  him:  and  it  was  from  her 
that  he  was  hiding.  Peter,  the  real  author  of  Mark's  gospel, 
an  eye  witness  of  all,  in  the  case  of  several  separate  histories, 
conveys  to  us  the  climax  of  the  whole  account  by  a  most 
felicitous  touch  of  narration  in  perhaps  vei-y  few  words, 
casting  the  strongest  light  of  all  the  evangelists  upon  the  pass- 
ing scene.  This  case  affords  an  instance.  After  he  has  told 
us  that  the  master  "would  have  no  man  know"  his  where- 


228  SKETCHES    FROM   THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

aboiits,  be  adds:  ''but  he  could  not  be  hid;  for  a  certain 
woman,  whose  daughter  was  grievoush^  vexed  with  a  devil, 
having-  heard  of  him,  came."' 

We  here  get  a  glimpse  of  industrious  persistency.  Like 
the  spouse  in  Solomon's  song,  she  went  about  the  city  in 
the  streets  and  broadways  thereof,  seeking  him  whom  her 
soul  loved.  She  inquired  of  every  passer,  she  followed  up 
every  trace,  she  explored  every  avenue;  so  that  it  was  im- 
possible for  him  to  be  hidden.  Our  Lord  concealed  himself 
so  closely,  that  had  it  been  possible  to  discourage  and  di- 
vert her,  it  would  have  been  accomplished.  As  soon  as  it 
became  evident  that  her  determination  would  never  yield, 
that  her  search  would  never  be  relinquished  until  it  was 
successful,  that  closed  doors  could  not  defeat  her,  her 
assiduity  was  rewarded.  Some  one  whom  she  addressed 
had  seen  him,  and  at  last  she  found  herself  befoi'e  him. 

The  first  sight  was  enough :  it  needed  not  to  point 
him  out.  Royalty  never  had  such  a  presence:  his 
personality  made  its  impression  on  all  be  liolders. 
The  illustrious  seed  of  the  woman,  the  vanquisher  of 
Satan  was  indeed  before  her.  Matthew  teaches  us,  that 
without  the  ornaments  and  adjuncts  of  office,  his  appear- 
ance betokened  an  individuality  endowed  with  a  superhu- 
man force,  a  weight  of  character,  and  accompanying  atmos- 
phere of  infiuence,  which  his  poor  surroundings  could  never 
hide.  Poor  and  contemptible  in  comparison  was  the  pomp 
of  kings,  mere  gilded  puppets.  Here  was  the  King  of  Glory, 
recognizable  througji  the  disguise  of  poverty. 

We  gather  from  the  history,  that  without  listening  to  his 
discourse,  she  began  at  once  to  make  known  her  need  and 
to  supplicate  his  aid.  Standing  on  the  outside  of  the  little 
throng,  she  cried :  "O  Lord,  thou  son  of  David,  have  mercy 
on  me:  my  daughter  is  grievoush^  vexed  with  a  devil."  By 
this  address,  she  proclaimed  what  in  her  inmost  heart  she 
believed;  that  he  was  the  expected  Messiah,  and  that  he 
had  the  rule  over  the  powers  of  evil.  In  this  faith  the 
event  proved  her  steadfast  and  immovable. 

As  he  seemed  not  to  heed  nor  even  to  hear ;  she  repeated 
again  and  again  and  again  her  request ;  but  had  she  ap- 
pealed to  a  god  of  wood  or  stone  she  would  have  been  as 


HISTOHirAL   AND    DOCTRINAL.  229 

successful.  "He  auswered  her  uot  a  word."  Again  and 
again  she  called;  but  we  judge  from  the  history,  that  it  is 
doubtful  if  she  attracted  even  a  look.  He  sat  like  a  man 
of  stone  indifferent  to  her  earnest  call.  With  her  views  of 
Jesus,  this  must  have  been  very  unexpected  and  very  dis- 
appointing. To  her  he  was  the  very  embodiment  of  the 
love  of  (lod,  and  as  teuder  in  dealing  with  human  infii-m- 
ity  as  the  supreme  father;  not  breaking  the  bruised  reed, 
nor  quenching  the  smoking  flax. 

Did  she  muse  in  her  mind,  can  this  be  the  great  helper 
promised,  whose  mercy  is  higher  than  the  heaven,  and 
broader  than  the  earth,  and  deeper  than  the  sea?  Can  he 
be  the  Messiah,  and  be  so  insensible  to  the  crushing,  killing 
needs  of  suffering  humanity?  If  such  thoughts  passed,  as 
they  undoubtedly  did,  they  were  not  allowed  a  lodgement 
in  her  soul.  Evil  is  ever  present  with  us;  but  it  takes  no 
more  control  than  we  give  it.  She  had  convictions  respect- 
ing him  that  could  not  be  shaken. 

Again  and  again  she  I'epeated  her  application,  until  it  be- 
came impossible  to  listen  to  the  teachings  even  of  Jesus; 
and  then  the  attention  of  the  assembly  was  engrossed  hy 
her  to  their  vast  annoyance  and  discomfort;  and  all  but 
he  were  discomposed;  yet  he  answered  her  not  a  word. 

At  this  stage  the  disciples  seem  to  have  taken  up  her 
cause,  and  to  have  represented  to  the  master  that  the  at- 
tention of  the  ]jeople  was  entirely  distracted  by  the  inter- 
ruption; and  that  it  was  useless  to  attempt  to  teach,  while 
every  minute  brought  a  new  outburst  from  this  stricken 
and  agonized  mother;  and  thej^  therefore  advised  that  he 
either  grant  her  request,  or  give  her  so  pointed  a  refusal 
as  to  silence  her  entirely.  Indeed  from  the  brief  narrative 
it  seems  possible  that  he  may  have  turned  his  back  upon 
her,  and  left  the  place;  as  the  disciples  state,  that  "She 
crieth  after  us,'"  possibly  in  the  street.  However  this  may 
be,  his  attention  is  now  called  to  her  in  such  a,  manner, 
that  he  cannot  avoid  taking  some  notice  of  her.  The  whole 
crowd  of  disciples  and  hearers  are  now  fixing  their  atten- 
tion upon  her;  and  it  becomes  incumbent  on  the  master  to 
speak  respecting  her,  or  to  her  personally.  He  can  no 
longer  be  silent. 


2.H()  SKETCHES   FROM    THE   LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

He  at  length  speaks,  but  vouchsafes  liei-  not  a  word :  if 
lie  looks,  it  is  with  stony  indifference;  but  he  directs  his 
answer  to  the  disciples :  and  his  words  are  pointed  enough : 
*'I  am  not  sent  but  to  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel." 
Here  was  a  direct  answer  delivered  with  a  truly  Jewish  posi- 
tiveness.  It  savored  of  the  bigotry  and  narrowness  of  the 
Jew.  and  seemed  to  meet  the  convictions  of  the  disciples 
themselves.  The  Canaanite  had  ever  been  an  abhorrence 
to  their  fathers.  These  words  must  have  had  a  crushing- 
effect  upon  the  woman :  indeed  we  perceive  it  in  her  tone. 

It  was  natural  that  she  should  think:  Wh^-?  is  it  possi- 
ble, that  he  is  full  of  the  bigoti-y  and  self-conceit  so  hateful 
in  the  whole  Israelitish  people?  He  appears  as  narrow  in 
his  views,  and  as  contracted  in  his  sympathies  as  the  small- 
est of  his  race.  While  such  thoughts  arose,  they  were  not 
suffered  to  take  possession  of  her.  Gathering  strength  from 
the  promises  of  the  Jewish  scriptures,  that  ''all  nations  shall 
be  blessed  in  the  seed  of  Abraham  ;"'  that  "the  glory  of  God 
shall  be  revealed"  in  Messiah  "and  all  flesh  shall  behold  it 
together:"  that  his  salvation  is  to  be  for  the  ends  of  the 
earth  and  not  for  Jews  onh';  though  crushed  to  earth,  she 
rises  with  invigorated  faith,  asking  herself,  why  does  he 
come  here  then  among  Gentiles,  if  he  have  nothing  for  us. 
She  certainly  had  a  stronger  faith  than  the  disciples,  who 
seem  to  have  acquiesced  in  the  decision  of  the  master 
already  delivered,  that  his  help  was  not  for  such  as  her. 

The  Jewish  scriptures  a  (ientile  could  better  understand 
than  a  Jew.  The  eyes  of  the  chosen  ])eople  were  blinded  by 
such  a  national  pri^le,  and  egregious  self-estimation;  that 
they  could  not  undei'stand  that  the  ]\Iessiah  was  ever  repre- 
sented as  the  helper  and  savior  of  the  race;  that  the  prom- 
ise was  not  so  much  to  the  seed  of  Abraham,  as  the  seed 
of  Adam.  If  an\'  one  thing  was  inculcated  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment by  every  variety  of  statement :  it  is  that  the  Messiah 
should  come  for  the  world  of  mankind,  and  not,  as  the  Jew 
in  his  blindness  fancied,  for  the  deliverance  of  Israel  merely. 
The  minds  of  the  apostles  were  not  so  clear  upon  this  point, 
as  was  the  mind  of  this  Gentile  woman. 

Though  broken  in  pieces  by  his  manner  as  well  as  by  his 
words,  her  faith  in  him  as  the  son  of  God  and  savior  of  the 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  231 

world  is  not  destroyed  nor  even  shaken.  We  can  imagine 
her  quivering:  with  anguish,  choking  with  great  sobs  of 
agon^^,  yet  chnging  more  firmly  to  the  promises  of  God,  and 
placing  her  feet  more  solidly  upon  the  foundation  of  his 
word.  She  was  staying  herself  upon  some  of  the  exceeding- 
great  and  precious  declarations,  which  had  long  been  as  re- 
viving cordials  to  her  fainting  spirit;  and  having  taken 
hold  of  the  girdle  of  the  divine  faithfulness,  she  was  tight- 
ening her  grasp,  resolved,  that  nothing  short  of  an  unequivo- 
cal refusal  of  hel]3  should  drive  her  away.  There  are  trials 
from  which  God  wisely  refuses  deliverance:  but  in  these  his 
grace  is  sufficient  for  us  to  sustain  us,  so  as  that  they  become 
aids,  even  if  they  are  crosses.  Her  feeling  was,  he  shall  at 
least  say,  go,  and  my  grace  shall  be  sufficient  for  thee. 

Determined  and  animated  by  new  hope,  she  presses  for- 
ward to  his  very  presence.  We  think  that  the  sympathies 
of  the  beholders  were  with  her,  and  that  they  opened  a  way, 
that  she  might  approach  to  his  very  seat;  and  we  read 
that  she  came  and  cast  herself  down  at  his  feet.  Her  |)rayer 
was  Yery  short;  she  could  say  no  more  than,  "Lord  help 
me."  It  was  what  has  been  well  called  the  prayer  of  silence, 
when  the  soul  is  too  full  for  utterance,  and  in  place  of  words 
groans  go  up,  unutterable  in  the  language  of  earth.  He 
can  no  longer  avoid  looking  at  her  and  speaking  to  her; 
the  interest  of  the  whole  company  is  concentrated  upon  her, 
and  the  issue  of  her  case. 

Before  him  is  a  heart  broken  and  contrite,  reduced  to 
powder  as  it  were;  but  he  gives  it  another  blow  still.  Pre- 
serving his  appearance  of  indifference  and  coldness  he  says : 
"it  is  not  meet  to  take  the  children's  bread,  and  cast  it  to 
dogs.""  Why  does  she  not  rise  up  and  say  I  thought  that 
the  Messiah  of  God  had  indeed  come  for  the  race  of  man, 
and  not  for  the  Jew  only ;  but  this  cannot  be  he,  he  does 
not  fill  the  description.  He  does  not  agree  with  what  the 
scriptures  plainly  say. 

No,  her  convictions  respecting  him  and  his  mission  can 
suffer  no  change.  Nothing  could  be  mor-e  harsh  or  severe 
than  his  response,  but  it  does  not  repel  her.  She  is  ready 
with  a  re])ly  that  takes  his  own  words  of  refusal,  and  tui*ns 
them  into  an  argument  in  her  favor.      "Ti*uth   Lord."'  she 


232  SKETCHES  FKO.M   THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

says,  dog  I  am.  and  am  asking  not  for  a  child's  but  a  dog's 
portion;  ''the  dogs  eat  of  the  crumbs  that  fall  from  their 
master's  table."     I  am  asking  for  only  a  crumb  of  mercy, 

Immediateh"  the  whole  manner  and  speech  of  the  master 
changed  from  frigid  and  repellant,to  the  most  benignant  and 
approving  softness.  He  broke  into  unusual  commendation 
and  said:  '"0  woman  great  is  th}-  faith;  be  it  unto  thee 
even  as  thou  wilt."  He  had  been  the  while  concealing  his 
mercy;  now  he  thre^^  aside  all  reserve,  and  revealed  the 
secret  purpose,  which  had  brought  him  out  of  the  lioly 
land  into  the  neighborhood  of  Gentiles  and   idolaters. 

He  had  come  for  this  express  object  to  find  and  to  bless 
one  of  his  suffering  people.  The  good  shepherd  goes  into 
the  wilderness  to  seek  "his  own"  sheep,  "to  bind  up  that 
which  was  broken,  and  strengthen  that  which  was  sick." 
His  mission  is  to  heal  the  broken-hearted  and  set  at  liberty 
them  that  are  bruised.  His  conduct  is  explained.  He 
knows  when  the  hour,  the  moment  has  come,  when  relief 
can  be  administered,  and  the  cordials  of  grace  can  be  wise- 
ly vouchsafed. 

Jacob's  prayer  at  Peniel  was  recorded  by  inspiration,  be- 
cause it  was  the  most  fervent  that  man  ever  uttered  ;  it  o\ei-- 
came  the  angel,  and  wrested  a  blessing  from  a  seemingly 
reluctant  donor.  Here  stands  a  history,  a  fitting  match 
for  it.  That  angel  with  the  secret  name  at  Peniel  and 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  are  one  and  the  same.  AYhat  a  scliool 
the  apostles  were  learning  in!  what  a  teacher  they  had! 
-\o  wonder  they  said :  "We  cannot  but  speak  the  things 
which  we  have  seen  f?Jhd  heard."  This  whole  occuiience 
doubtless  illustrated  the  sermon  which  he  was  preaching, 
and  stamped  what  he  taught  upon  the  memories  of  the 
listeners.  His  exhortations  to  the  exercise  of  faith  were 
enforced  with  incredible  power,  as  only  he  could  enforce. 

We  know  not  what  communications  passed  between  the 
Lord  and  this  disciple.  He,  who  had  come  to  Sidon  for 
her  sake,  led  her  into  "the  green  ])astures  and  beside  the 
still  waters."  Where  he  had  torn,  he  healed:  where  he  had 
smitten,  he  poured  in  the  oil  of  cons)lation.  In  all  this 
tliere  had  been  a  new  revelation  of  God;  a  window  had 
been  opened  in  heaven:  and  she  had  been  called  to  look  in 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  1233 

upon  the  things  that  are  unseen.  Her  joy  was  full,  not  only 
from  the  relief  of  her  little  daughter,  but  much  more  from 
the  new  views  which  she  had  gained  of  God  and  his  only 
son.  Christ  revealed  himself  more  fully,  rending  the  veil 
from  before  the  Holy  of  Holies,  showing  the  eternal  reali- 
ties hidden  beneath  the  types,  and  feeding  her  with  the 
heavenly  manna  of  divine  knowledge.  A  great  light  shone 
into  her  soul  and  a  new  life  infused  its  secret  power  in  con- 
nection with  it.     This  history  shows : 

1.  That  Jesus  is  always  nigh  unto  them  who  call  upon 
him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  This  mother  was  so  detained 
at  home  with  the  care  and  nursing  of  this  helpless  child, 
that  she  could  not  go  to  Jesus ;  and  therefore  the  Savior 
came  to  her.  We  may  never  know  precisely  what  demoniac 
possession  was.  It  does  not  seem  to  have  been  identical 
with  insanity,  which  seldom  occurs  in  the  young,  and  is  not 
a  children's  disease  at  all.  That  spirits  good  and  malignant 
frequented  this  earth  more  than  in  any  previous  or  sub- 
sequent age,  seems  clear  from  the  word  of  God. 

It  was  the  age  of  the  supernatural,  introduced  by  the 
miraculous  star  and  the  healing  power  in  the  waters  of 
Bethesda.  It  seems  easiest  to  accept  the  statements  of 
the  evangelists  in  their  plainest  sense,  that  the  demons 
were  spirits  from  the  abyss,  or  "deep"  as  the  A.  Y.  has 
it,  to  which  the  command  of  Christ  could  haye  consigned 
them,  had  he  seen  it  best  to  drive  them  from  the  world- 
Their  presence  was  perhaps  permitted  in  order  that  his 
victorious  power  might  be  more  fully  displayed  in  their 
subjection.  The  great  contest  in  progress  was  not  so  much 
between  men  and  the  Redeemer,  as  between  Satan  and  the 
seed  that  came  to  bruise  his  head.  It  was  a  great  and 
grevious  affliction.  Jesus  sought  the  opportunity  of  help- 
ing her.  Wherever  a  broken  heart  is  found,  there  the 
great  physician  is  near,  waiting  for  our  call.  Afflictions 
which  drive  us  to  him  are  our  greatest  mercies ;  therefore 
human  life  is  filled  with  sorrows,  and  hearts  are  over- 
whelmed with  trials  greater  than  can  be  borne. 

2.  Deep  humiliation  always  precedes  the  divine  blessing. 
He  smote  this  loving  mother,  whom  he  came  to  help  with  the 
''sharp  two-edged  sword,  that  proceedeth  out  of  his  mouth" 


234  STRETCHES    FIJO.M    THE    LIEE   OF   JESUS. 

again  and  again.  He  refused  her  application  again  and 
again.  He  left  no  room  for  a  repetition  of  lier  request:  but 
cast  her  off  from  all  standing  ground  of  hope.  His  answer 
seemed  to  be  final,  not  leaving  a  loop  hole  through  which 
to  secure  a  second  hearing.  This  harsh  treatment  was  ab- 
.solutely  needed,  or  it  would  not  have  been  employed:  and 
its  effect  was  salutary.  ''He  does  not  willingly  afflict  nor 
grieve  the  children  of  men."  The  rod  in  its  heaviest  blows 
is  wielded  by  the  hand  of  infinite  love. 

He  threw  all  her  un worthiness  in  her  face,  until  she  ac- 
knowledged that  she  had  no  child's  claim  whatever  upon" 
him:  but  hke  the  dog  (not  a  petted  animal  with  the  Jews 
as  with  us,  but  unclean  and  outcast)  was  to  be  left  to  take  her 
chance  for  the  crumbs  and  crusts"  under  the  table.  When 
we  thus  appear  before  him  renouncing  every  claim,  appeal- 
ing to  his  sovereign  mercy  alone,  we  are  then  in  our  proper 
place.  'Thus  saith  the  high  and  lofty  one,  though  heaven 
is  my  throne,  and  the  earth  is  my  foot-stool;  to  this  man 
will  I  look,  even  to  him  that  is  of  an  humble  and  contrite 
heait."  No  sight  in  heaven  or  on  earth  of  angel  or  saint 
so  rivets  the  gaze  of  the  all-seeing  one,  as  the  sight  of  a 
sinner  truly  humble  and  contrite.  Ranks  of  burning  ser- 
aphs and  shining  angels  do  not  so  move  and  enlist  the 
heart  of  him  wlio  suffered  for  our  redemption. 

It  is  matter  of  astonishment,  what  severity  of  dealing  is 
re(]uired  to  produce  in  us  this  genuine  humility.  Our  life  is 
I'educed  to  a  span  or  hand-ljreadth :  and  it  is  filled  with 
sorrow:  waters  of  a  full  cup  are  wi-ung  out  to  us,  and  tears 
are  our  meat  day  iv.id  night.  "T  am  astonished  how  much 
it  took  to  make  me  a  christian""  said  one,  after  friends  had 
died.  iJi'operty  had  been  lost,  and  distresses  had  been  mul- 
tiplied: until  nothing  seemed  left  to  live  for.  The  treatment 
of  the  great  physician,  and  the  medicine  he  administers 
nearly  kill  the  patient:  but  they  are  no  more  than  the  case 
demands.  He  does  not  die  under  the  opei-ation;  and  that 
is  the  most  that  can  be  said.  Like  a  skilful  surgeon,  the 
savior  has  his  finger  on  the  })ulse,  and  at  the  moment  of 
need,  he  bestows  the  comfoi'ting  cordials  of  the  covenant: 
and  the  ]»atient  revives,  and  enters  u])on  the  new  life  of 
hojte  and  joy. 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  235 

3.  When  God  bestows  liis  blessing,  it  is  full  and  over- 
flowino-.  His  measure  is  always  a  lieapino- measure,  pressed 
down  and  running  over:  "be  it  unto  thee  even  as  thou  wilt." 
At  the  last,  there  was  no  drawback  to  her  joy;  her  cup  was 
full.  The  dear  child,  whose  welfare  was  precious  to  her  as 
her  own,  is  to  be  a  life-long-  comfort  and  help;  the  clog 
which  anchored  her  to  a  perpetual  prison  was  not  only  re- 
moved ;  but  she  received  an  angel  child  to  be  the  sta^'  and 
joy  of  lier  life.  And  this  was  not  all;  she  had  been  ad- 
mitted to  a  face  view  of  the  angel  of  the  covenant,  who 
wrestled  with  Jacob ;  of  him  Avho  spoke  with  Moses  from  the 
burning  bush;  and  had  seen  the  glory  of  God  as  it  shines 
from  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Heaven  has  no  higher  quality  of  j  03^  but  a  far  higher  degree 
of  the  same.  There  is  "the  fulness  of  joy."  These  are  the 
things  "which  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  has  it 
entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive."  To  perceive  more 
than  this  would  rend  the  tie  that  binds  us  to  flesh  and  blood, 
and  dissolve  the  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle.  Probably  no 
one  was  admitted  to  a  closer  communion  with  the  master 
on  earth ;  though  the  meagre  history  gives  us  no  particu- 
lars of  A\  hat  would  gratify  our  curiosity,  rather  than  edify 
our  souls. 


286  SKETCHES   FROM   THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 


CHAPTER  XX II I. 


THE  MAN   BORN  BLIND,    JOHN  IX, 


That  the  events  I'elated  in  this  chapter  followed  immedi- 
ately upon  the  would-be  murderous  assault,  narrated  in 
the  previous  chapter,  seems  probable  from  the  fourth  verse: 
''The  night  cometh,  when  no  man  can  work."  The  malice  of 
the  enemies  just  now  exhibited,  will  finallj  jirevail  to  cut  off 
my  life;  but  little  time  remains  to  me;  and  it  must  be  spent  in 
words  of  mercy  upon  all  within  my  reach.  A  deep  pathos 
sounds  in  the  words.  As  he  was  leaving  the  temple  grounds, 
he  came  upon  a  man  born  blind,  who  well  illustrated  the 
si>iritual  condition  of  hopeless  darkness,  in  which  the  lead- 
ers of  Israel  were;  and  whom  he  made  an  example  of  his 
ability'  and  desire  to  deliver  them. 

It  was  evident  to  every  beholder,  that  the  man  had  been 
born  blind ;  his  quivering  lids  covered  sockets,  in  which 
were  only  the  I'udiments  of  eye-balls.  The  Savior's  pity 
moved  over  the  poor  man  imprisoned  in  unbroken  nignt ; 
but  yearned  more  tenderly  for  those,  who  would  have  just 
then  stoned  him.  He  longed  to  teach  them,  that  one  was 
piesent  who  .had  the  power  and  the  desire  to  open  their 
prison  to  the  light  o^  spiritual  joy  and  salvation.  His  ]nty 
assumed  a  dee]3er  fervor  ever,  as  the  deadly  hatl-ed  of  his 
enemies  showed  itself  more  clearly.  As  he  halted  before  the 
maji,  his  disciples  asked:  "Master,  who  did  sin,  this  man,  or 
his'parents,that  he  was  born  blind?"'  giving  utterance  to  the 
Jewish  notion,  that  such  cases  were  punishments  for  some 
one's  sins.  The  answer  given  to  their  in(]uiry  was  such  as  this 
beggar  had  never  listened  to  before  in  his  whole  life:  "Neither 
hath  this  man  sinned,  nor  his  parents;  but  that  the  works 
of  God  might  be  manifested  in  him."  Such  sym])athy  and 
wisdom  took  his  soul  captive  at  once.  He  knew  nothing 
of   the  speaker,  ex(.'ept    there    were  those    wlio    called  him 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRIXAL.  237 

"Master."  His  very  soul  iiiust  have  thrilled  at  the  words  : 
•'As  long"  as  I  am  in  the  world,  I  am  the  light  of  the  world." 

Our  Lord's  masterly  prudence  forbade  the  restoration  of 
the  blind  man's  sight  on  the  spot,  in  the  close  vicinity  of 
the  raging-  opposers :  so  he  sent  him  away  a  little  distance. 
His  principal  sense  being  the  touch,  he  addressed  him 
through  it,  by  making  an  ointment  of  clay  from  his  own 
spittle,  and  anointing  the  blind  eyes  with  it;  saying 
to  him:  "Go,  wash  in  the  pool  of  the  Sent  One:"  for  God 
has  sent  me  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  blind.  The  gentle 
touch  of  the  Master's  hand,  as  well  as  the  soft  sympathy 
of  his  voice,  aided  the  ])oor  man  to  a  faith,  that  filled  him 
with  inward  strength  and  expectation.  Nor  was  he  disap- 
pointed :  he  went  and  washed,  and  came  seeing.  "The  works 
of  God  were"  indeed  "manifested  in  him,"  as  the  Pharisees 
themselves  afterwards  confessed :  Vs.  24.  All  took  place 
for  the  glory  of  TJod,  more  than  for  the  special  relief  of  the 
sufferer,  and  this  was  imprinted  on  his  memory. 

Here  is  a  picture:  the  background  is  made  up  of  angry 
opposers.  The  darkness  not  only  does  not  comprehend  the 
light:  but  resists  it,  and  would  mui'der  the  messenger  of 
light.  In  the  foreground  the  central  figure  is  the  deliverer, 
Avhose  love  is  as  ready,  as  his  power  is  absolute;  a  wit- 
ness for  him  stands  at  his  side,  bearing  a  testimony'  in  his 
own  pei'son. 

The  reception  of  sight  by  one  born  blind  well  represents 
the  conversion  of  the  blind  soul:  inasmuch  as  it  is  the 
greatest  physical  change  conceivable.  The  poor  creature 
born  blind  knows  not  that  he  is  blind,  having  no  concep- 
tion of  the  lacking  sense.  Such  an  one  can  form  no  correct 
idea  of  light  from  all  the  information  possible  to  him,  any 
more  than  a  Christian  on  earth  can  form  a  correct  idea  of 
the  heav^enly  life.  It  is  impossible  for  those  blest  with  sight 
to  realize  the  abject  condition  of  one  who  has  never  beheld 
the  day.  He  is  imprisoned  within  the  narrow  circuit  of 
his  daily  rounds;  and  no  effort  of  his  mind  can  reveal  to 
him  the  sense,  by  which  his  fellowmeu  become  cognizant  of 
things  far  away  to  a  measureless  distance.  The  acquisition 
of  sight  transferred  the  favored  individual  fro]n  his  little 
circle  to  the  boundless  universe.   It  was  the  a-aiuino-  of  an  en- 


238  SKKTCHES    FUOM    THE   LIFF:   OF   JESUS. 

tirely  ue\v  sense,  the  farthest  i'ea(?liiii{>',  and  the  most  valuable 
of  all,  one  that  multiplies  life  a  thousand  fold,  and  enlarg. 
ino-  its  sphere  beyond  ealculation.  No  o-reater  earthly  boon 
fan  be  mentioned;  and  it  is  the  greatest  of  which  man  can 
be  tlie  subject.  It  was  a  change  affecting  the  whole  man; 
it  was  visible  in  the  ])oise  of  the  head,  the  carriage  of  the 
body,  the  freer  use  of  the  limbs,  the  illumination  of  the 
countenance,  and  the  evei'  moving  windows  of  observation, 
from  which  the  soul  is  scrutinizing  its  surroundings. 

While  such  a  change  thus  affects  the  whole  person,  it  is 
the  smallest  possible  change  in  perhaps  the  smallest  member 
of  the  human  body.  No  part  was  adjusted  except  the  eye, 
a  little  orb  about  one  inch  in  diameter.  If  an^'  nmtter  was 
added  to  its  mass,  it  was  only  a  very  few  grains;  and  it 
was  done  by  a  creative  act.  The  ball  was  rounded  out 
into  its  normal  fulness;  the  lenses  were  readjusted;  the 
internal  machinery  was  put  into  working  order;  for  it  is 
a  nmchine  equally  with  the  telescope.  The  dehcate  ai-i-ang- 
ments  within  the  tiny  globe  assumed  their  functions  with- 
out disturbance  of  any  other  part  or  portion  of  the  frame. 
Thei-e  could  not  have  been  a  slighter  modihcation;  but  it 
ti-ansformed  the  whole  person.  The  neighbors,  familiar  with 
him  from  childhood,  were  divided  in  opinion  as  to  his  iden- 
tity; until  he  assured  them:  so  vast  was  the  difference  in 
his  general  appearance,  while  evidently  the  same  individual 
known  to  them  familiarly  all  his  life. 

It  was  instantaneous  in  its  occurrence.  In  some  cases, 
the  blind  received  their  sight  under  the  very  hands  of  the 
Master;  in  others  at  a  distance  from  him  on  compliance 
with  the  stipulated  conditions;  but  in  every  case,  the  re- 
covery took  place  in  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye. 
In  no  case  was  there  any  process.  The  inquisitois  appear 
to  have  been  astounded  on  learning,  that  the  recipient  of 
sight  was  not  in  the  company  of  his  benefactor;  and  that 
the  miracle  had  been  effected  without  the  presence  of  the 
healer  himself  at  all.  When  the  waters  of  Siloam  loosened 
the  scales  of  clay  on  the  man's  eyelids;  instantly  he  was 
in  the  light  of  a  new  world.  Old  things  had  passed  away; 
and  all  things  had  b<>come  new.  This  is  a  characteristic 
of  the  acts  of  .\lmighty  God:   "he  s])eaks,  and   it  is  done; 


HISTORICAL   AND    UOCTKINAL.  289 

he  comniauds,  and  it  stands  fast,''  There  is  no  succession 
of  steps:  his  will  is  effective  by  a  single  volition.  All  the 
needed  changes  in  the  organ  of  vision  occurred  simultane- 
ously;  and  were  perfected  at  once. 

The  modus  operandi  of  second  causes  can  be  definitely 
traced  and  described :  and  the  result  reached  is  the  effect 
of  their  intelligible  operation :  when  God  acts  immediately, 
there  is  no  understanding  of  any  of  his  matters.  Cavilers 
often  wish  to  have  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  beholding  a 
miracle.  Had  they  been  present  on  any  such  an  occasion, 
they  would  have  found  that  there  was  nothing  to  see.  The 
spectacle  of  a  miracle  would  have  nothing  in  it  more  con- 
vincing, than  the  record  of  it,  which  we  possess. 

It  was  inexplicable  by  the  subject  himself.  He  knew  no 
more  about  the  manner  of  its  accomplishment,  than  we  do 
at  the  distance  of  two  thousand  years.  One  moment  he 
was  blind,  he  washed,  and  in  that  moment  he  saw.  These 
were  his  only  sensations.  He  was  conscious  of  nothing  be- 
side. When  re(]uired  to  tell  how  the  miracle  was  effected, 
he  knew  nothing  more.  Neither  the  clay  nor  the  water,  nor 
the  mud  resulting  from  their  mixture,  had  any  efficac\'  in 
producing  the  recovery;  their  action  was  antagonistic 
totally.  The  efficacy  was  not  in  them;  but  in  the  power 
of  Christ.  When  men  can  understand  how  light  shone  at 
his  bidding;  how  matter  started  into  being  at  his  word; 
they  can  then  understand  how  the  man  born  blind  saw. 
The  power  of  God  operates  in  our  own  frame  incessantly ; 
it  wakens  the  heart  to  action  ever^-  second  of  time ;  it 
rouses  the  lungs  to  infla.te  themselves  at  every  breath;  it 
stimulates  every  vessel  to  its  normal  action;  and  3^et  we 
are  not  sensible  of  his  presence  nor  of  his  agency ;  his  hand 
is  hidden  behind  what  we  call  natural  law.  No  more  did 
the  blind  man  feel  the  power  that  restored  him.  There 
was  no  preparation;  the  spectators  saw  nothing;  there 
was  no  process;  the  subject  himself  felt  nothing.  Divine 
power  acts  silently,  and  beyond  the  domain  of  human  ob- 
servation. How  does  the  grass  grow?  How  are  the  mighty' 
operations  of  nature  carried  on? 

How  exactly  are  all  these  enumei-ated  particulars  verifie<l 
in  the  regeneration  of  a  human  soul?  may  be  asked. 


240  SKETCHES   FliO.M   THE    LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

Ee^'eneratioii  is  the  greatest  change  of  which  human 
nature  is  susceptible.  Civilization,  education,  refinement 
are  capable  of  great  effects;  but  they  can  only  modify. 
The  change  spoken  of  is  radical :  it  takes  ])lace  at  the  ver^' 
fountain  of  our  life;  it  is  an  engrafting  into  the  very  root 
of  our  being;  it  is  the  introduction  of  an  infinitesimal  germ 
of  a  new  life  into  our  very  blood.  Yet  there  is  no  change 
of  individuality:  Peter  is  Peter  still,  and  Paul  is  Paul.  Tt 
is  a  change  of  receptivity.  The  e^-e,  once  impervious  to 
the  light  of  truth,  now  opens  to  receive  it  with  gladness. 
The  heart  that  once  rejected  Jesus  Christ  now  warms  with 
emotion  at  the  simple  mention  of  his  name.  This  renewal 
of  man's  inmost  nature  is  the  mighty  power  of  God,  and 
inexplicable  by  auA'  human  philosopln-;  neither  can  it  be 
explained  by  its  subjects  to  the  comprehension  of  others. 
It  can  be  known  only  by  experience.  The  act  of  faith  can- 
not be  described  so  as  to  be  understood  by  an  inquiring- 
investigator.  There  is  but  one  teacher  who  can  make  it 
plain  to  human  understanding:  and  he  can  help  the 
humlile  soul  to  exercise  it.  It  is  his  office  to  do  this :  it 
is  he  whom  Jesus  calls  the  comforter.  The  only  true  com- 
fort to  erring  man  is  the  exercise  of  this  faith.  The  soul 
is  not  conscious  of  his  agency  until  his  work  is  completed, 
and  the  blind  sees. 

It  is  the  wish  of  many  a  skeptical  reader  of  the  New 
Testament,  under  the  impression  that  the  world  has  been 
too  ready  to  receive  as  miracles  of  supernatural  power  oc- 
currences which,  if  tested  by  the  improved  methods  of  the 
present  age,  would  n|)t  have  passed  examination,  that  some 
of  the  works  of  Christ  could  have  been  subjected  to  close 
and  searching  investigation  of  a  hostile  kind.  Here  we 
have  a  miracle  investigated  by  the  most  bittei-  and  de- 
termined hostility:  all  the  possible  witnesses  in  the  case 
called :  their  testimony  received  with  the  most  exacting- 
caution;  the  inquiry  ])ushed  to  the  limits  of  patience:  and 
the  conclusion  to  which  the  whole  city  came  is  expressed 
in  John  11:  37.  "Could  not  this  man,  who  opened  the 
eyes  of  the  blind,  have  caused  that  this  man  (Lazarus) 
should  not  have  died?"  It  was  universally  conceded  that 
this  was  a  miracle  of  the  highest  order,  and  the  mind  of 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  241 

the  people  settled  to  that  conviction.  Indeed,  the  man 
himself  was  as  well  known  as  Caiaphas  or  Pilate,  and  was 
in  the  streets  every  day ;  and  had  become  a  bold  confessor. 
Who  can  be  better  known  than  a  blind  bego-ar,  or  a  life- 
long cripple  who  had  Imng  around  the  temple  gates  from 
childhood  up,  though  poor? 

The  most  interesting  feature  of  the  whole  affair  is  now 
reached:  this  restoration  took  place  on  the  Sabbath  day. 
A  keen  controversy  had  been  long  waging  against  Jesus 
about  this  very  point,  attended  with  a  murderous  bitter- 
ness on  their  part.  They  were  maintaining  restrictions 
confessedly  not  ordained  of  God:  and  Jesus  was  contend- 
ing for  the  liberation  of  the  Sabbath  from  their  burden- 
some traditions.  It  was  impossible  to  make  him  desist 
from  healing  on  the  holy  day.  There  are  seven  or  eight 
instances  recorded  of  such  miracles,  besides  others  unre- 
corded :  and  in  this  case,  he  comes  up  to  Jerusalem  crowded 
with  the  whole  assembled  nation,  and  performs  an  astound- 
ing miracle  within  sight  and  hearing  of  the  temple  itself 
on  the  Sabbath  day.  He  does  not  even  wait  to  be  im- 
plored ;  but  volunteers  his  succor. 

The  heahng  of  the  impotent  man  at  Bethesda  related  in 
John  V,  had  roused  terrible  resentment.  What  but  a  ten- 
fold greater  antagonism  could  be  expected  from  this  fresh 
provocation  of  the  rulers?  On  this  occasion  there  had 
been  no  breach  of  their  traditions  by  bearing  a  burden  or 
any  other  injunction  violating  their  rules:  their  rage  was 
against  the  miracle  itself;  as  though  the  most  suitable 
day  for  the  release  of  one  from  the  prison  of  a  life-long 
night,  were  not  God's  holy  day:  to  be  a  red  letter  day  foi^ 
ever  in  the  man's  memory-. 

Not  only  had  this  most  notable  miracle  been  wrought 
under  the  eyes  of  the  rulers,  and  in  defiance  of  their  "'in- 
junctions; but  what  made  it  intolerably  odious  to  them 
was,  that  it  was  a  reassertion  with  most  tremendous  em- 
phasis of  all  the  claims,  which  he  had  advanced,  when 
called  to  account  for  the  healing  of  the  impotent  man,  for 
which  they  had  determined  to  put  him  to  death.  The 
words  rang  in  their  ears  yet:  "my  Father  worketh  hither- 
to, and  I  work."     He  claimed  full  equalitv  and  even  one- 

-IG 


242  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

ness  with  God.  The  father  and  son  according  to  his  state- 
ment were  inseparable  in  all  their  acts.  He  claimed  all  the 
rights  of  the  Father,  all  the  honor  due  unto  the  Father, 
and  to  be  the  object  of  faith  equally  with  the  Father. 

Could  a  frowning  Sanhedrin  or  a  raging  people  move  him 
from  his  position?  The  rulers  saw  what  they  had  discov- 
ered long  before;  that  he  could  never  abate  one  jot  or 
tittle  of  his  prerogatives ;  that  their  own  demurrer  was  only 
like  the  angry  waves  dashing  themselves  to  pieces  against 
the  eternal  rock:  that  his  principles  would  destroy  their 
rule  and  traditions  together.  How  his  words  were  remem- 
bered !  Never  were  the  sayings  of  a  man  clothed  with  such 
self-perpetuating  power.  In  their-  thoughts  they  still  saw 
him,  as  though  it  were  but  j^esterday,  standing  before  the 
senate  of  Israel  with  the  utmost  intrepidity  asserting  of 
himself  what  no  other  being  could  have  uttered  without 
blasphemy. 

The  onlj^  concession  made  by  him  was,  that  as  mediator 
he  was  subordinate;  that  he  was  sent  by  the  Father;  that 
the  miracles  were  given  him  to  do ;  that  the  message  which 
he  brought  was  committed  to  him;  but  that  all  this  was 
consistent  w  th  his  full  equality  with  the  Almighty  Father. 
The  only  testimony,  which  he  would  admit  in  the  case,  was 
the  testimony  of  the  Father  himself  expressed  by  the 
works  given  him  to  do.  All  was  distinct  in  their  memory; 
such  things  can  never  be  forgotten,  nor  ever  lose  their  as- 
tounding significance.  The  ineffable  grandeur  that  uttered 
them  was  more  off"'nsive  still.  The  whole  scene  remained 
in  their  memory,  and  glowed  before  them  with  a  fresh 
light  now;   and  aggravated  their  dislike  to  an  intensity. 

The  blind  man,  confessedly  innocent  of  all  crime,  except 
the  acknowledgement  that  Jesus  was  a  prophet,  they  re- 
solved to  be  avenged  upon ;  as  they  afterwards  sought  to- 
put  T^azarus  to  death,  for  the  crime  of  aiding  and  abet- 
ting, while  he  was  dead  and  lying  unconscious  in  his  grave. 
''Perceive  ye  how  ye  prevail  nothing?  Behold,  the  world 
is  [gone  after  him,"  was  the  taunt,  by  which  the^^  insti- 
gated one  another. 


HlSTOiaCAL  AND  DOCTRINATy,  243 

The  inflexibility  of  the  Nazarene  left  his  enemies  no  al- 
ternative but  to  receive  him  as  the  Messiah,  or  to  destroy 
him.  It  were  easier  to  bend  the  axis  of  the  earth,  than  to 
deflect  him  from  his  path. 

This  blind  man  knew  two  things:  that  whereas  he  was 
blind,  now  he  saw ;  he  also  knew  that  Jesns  was  a 
prophet  and  a  rig'hteons  man,  whom 'God  heard.  One  po- 
sition could  as  well  be  disputed  as  the  other.  His  convic- 
tions were  too  deep  to  be  overcome  by  the  dictation  of  the 
sanhedrin.  He  not  only  acknowledged  Jesus  before  the 
council  as  approved  of  God ;  but  he  became  his  advocate 
to  their  faces;  and  the  common  sense  of  the  illiterate  man 
led  him  to  contradict  the  united  wisdom  of  the  senate, 
though  but  a  youth  just  of  age:  and  brave  their  vindictive 
displeasure,  not  following  the  example  of  his  parents  in 
equivocating.  He  felt  that  the  honor  of  God  was  entrusted 
to  him  by  his  benefactor,  when  he  had  compassion  upon  him. 

Christ  has  always  had  advocates  in  the  darkest  and  most 
distressing  times;  and  no  one  ever  lost  by  him.  Though 
he  lose  life  even,  yet  shall  he  be  the  gainer  still.  Jesus  had 
watched  the  proceedings ;  and  soon  rewarded  the  man,  who 
suffered  in  his  cause.  We  are  told  that  soon  he  found  him 
and  said  to  him:  "Dost  thou  believe  on  the  Son  of  God?" 
His  usual  denomination  of  himself  was  the  Son  of  Man. 
The  question  mennt,  Dost  thou  believe  that  the  power  that 
healed  thee  resides  in  me?  and  that  the  mercy,  which  un- 
sought blessed  thee,  is  in  me  as  a  fountain?  in  a  word,  that 
I  am  not  merely  a  prophet,  but  the  Christ?  The  confessor 
was  willing  to  accept  the  testimony  of  Jesus  respectino- 
himself;  and  when  informed  that  he  claimed  to  be  the  Son 
of  God,  he  immediately  assented  with  all  his  heart  to  the 
news  communicated.  Faith  receives  Christ  just  for  what  he 
professes  to  be;  and  this  faith  in  the  heart  of  this  man 
was  an  eye  opened  in  his  soul,  by  which  he  recognized  Jesus 
as  the  Son  of  God  on  the  spot  and  on  the  instant.  He 
believed  that  the  Savior  would  deliver  him  from  the  power 
of  sin,  as  readily  as  he  had  delivered  him  from  the  nio-ht 
in  which  he  had  hitherto  lived. 

They  were  not  alone:  a  company  of  Pharisees  and  sup- 
porters of  the  council  were  around  them.    Indeed  the  world 


244  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

gazes  on  Christians,  when  the^^  exhibit  tlie  spirit  of  the 
Master;  they  are  "men  wondered  at.''  Jesus  was  the  centre 
of  the  gaze  of  all  eyes  wherever  he  might  be.  Before  them 
all,  the  new  convert  fell  down,  and  worshipped  the  Son  of 
God.  He  was  by  no  means  ashamed  to  own  his  Lord. 
Men  had  cast  him  out;  but  Christ  had  received  him.  Christ 
was  not  ashamed  of  him,  though  "altogether  born  in  sins." 
From  this  time  forth,  he  wore  the  name  of  the  Nazarene 
as  a  diadem  around  his  brow.  Jesus  had  gained  a  disci- 
ple; and  a  sinner  had  gained  a  Savior. 

The  occurrence  terminated  by  the  solemn  announcement 
from  the  lips  of  Christ  to  the  crowd  around  them:  "For 
judgment  am  I  come  into  this  world;  that  they  who  see 
not  may  see;  and  that  they  who  see  might  be  made  blind." 

The  auditors  understood  that  he  was  speaking  of  spirit- 
ual and  judicial  blindness,  and  they  asked:  "Are  we  blind, 
also?"  Our  Lord's  answer  was  most  impressive:  "If  ye 
were  blind,"  and  destitute  of  the  faculty  of  discernment, 
"ye  should  have  no  sin;"  "but  now  ye  say  we  see;"  you 
acknowledge  the  possession  of  all  the  faculties  necessary  to 
an  impartial  investigation,  and  an  honest  reception  of  the 
truth:  "therefore  your  sin  remaineth."  Your  blindness  is 
a  guilty  and  wilful  rejection  of  the  light,  and  the  sin  of 
such  a  course  rests  upon  you.  This  opened  the  whole  sub- 
ject of  their  guilt  to  their  comprehension,  and  left  the  doom 
of  their  condemnation  upon  their  own  heads. 

No  reply  could  be  more  solemn,  isolating  as  it  were  every 
hearer,  and  leaving  to  liim  the  decision  of  his  own  ever- 
lasting destiny,  according  as  he  received  or  rejected  the 
testimony  of  God  respecting  his  son.  The  miracle  was  left 
to  declare  by  its  silent  witness  how  ready  Jesus  was  to 
afford  his  help  to  all  who  desired  deliverance  from  the 
blinding  influence  of  a  sinful  nature  and  sinful  world;  and 
that  he  was  full  of  longing  desire  to  save  even  those  who 
were  following  him  with  stones,  and  fighting  against  God's 
truth. 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  245 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


THE  RICH  YOUNG  RULER, 


The  conversation,  which  our  Lord  held  with  this  young- 
man,  is  to  us  the  most  intensely  interestino;  on  some  ac- 
counts of  all  his  interviews.  The  disciples  were  evidently 
more  surprised,  more  enlightened,  and  more  influenced  sub- 
sequently by  what  they  heard  at  this  time,  than  by  any 
other  of  their  Master's  talks.  When  we  read  that  after  the 
Pentecost  many  sold  all  their  possessions,  and  laid  the 
money  at  the  apostles'  feet,  we  are  hearing  the  echo  of  the 
words  of  Christ  spoken  at  this  time.  Though  parting  with 
their  worldly  estate  was  not  made  obligatory,  yet  many 
adopted  our  Lord's  estimate  of  earthly  possessions,  and 
saw  in  them  an  obstacle  to  the  salvation  of  the  soul. 

The  obstacle  is  rather  in  the  sordid  mind,  than  in  the 
possessions  themselves,  which  are  talents  committed  for  use 
in  the  service  of  God,  and  aid  of  humanity.  The  present  is 
emphatically  the  age  when  riches  are  worshipped  and 
trusted  in;  when  money  makes  the  man,  and  is  the  object 
that  absorbs  the  thoughts,  and  animates  the  efforts  of 
the  world;  and  no  portion  of  holy  writ  more  deserves  the 
consideration  of  the  men  of  this  day,  than  this  account.  If 
Zaccheus  felt  the  necessity  of  the  sacrifice  which  he  made, 
and  numberless  others  have  followed  in  the  same  path,  the 
sincerity  of  their  devotion  is  undoubted ;  and  their  confi- 
dence in  the  hundred-fold  more  promised  in  this  life.  There 
is  no  better  debtor  than  Jehovah,  and  the  man  who  has 
given  to  him,  has  his  note  for  repayment  on  call. 

This  young  man  was  evidently  well-informed  respecting 
the  Nazarene.  With  unusual  candor  he  had  listened  to  all 
that  could  be  learned  respecting  him.  He  may  have  seen 
and  heard  him  at  some  of  the  gi-eat  feasts  at  Jerusalem, 
and  kept  himself  well  posted  about  his  mighty  works ;  and 


246  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

become  in  a  deoree  satisfied  of  his  superhuman  standing. 
These  works  bore  continual  witness  of  his  divinity.  No 
honest  observer  could  fail  of  being-  impressed  with  his  infi- 
nite superiority,  and  of  being  led  to  question  whether  he 
were  not  their  expected  Messiah ;  and  also  whether  he  were 
not  of  a  nature  superior  and  divine.  This  young  man  maj' 
have  long  desired  the  opportunity  of  consulting  him,  but 
in  the  absence  of  the  multitude.  Whoever  addressed  him, 
when  surrounded  by  a  press  of  observers,  became  at  once 
the  focus  of  the  gaze  of  perhaps  thousands,  and  subjected 
himself  to  a  moral  dissection  for  the  benefit  of  the  hearers, 
being  sure  to  be  shown  up  without  disguise.  All  men  have 
a  natural  modesty  and  reticence  about  their  religious  feel- 
ings;  a  sincere  inquirer  has  downright  shame. 

When  this  ruler  saw  the  teacher  come  out  of  some  house 
into  the  public  road  unattended  by  a  crowd,  he  lelt  that 
his  opportunity  had  arrived.  By  faUing  on  his  knees  be- 
fore him,  he  expressed  his  more  than  half  formed  convic- 
tion; that  he  was  the  Christ  of  God,  and  a  being  whom  it 
were  not  idolatry  to  worship.  Still,  while  he  felt  the  force 
of  the  testimony  to  his  divinitj^  his  assent  thereto  was 
not  complete:  and  he  was  in  that  state  of  uncertainty  about 
Jesus  Christ,  in  which  so  many  live  and  die.  Yet  he  ad- 
dressed him  merely  as  "good  teacher"'  for  whom  he  felt  the 
greatest  veneration ;  and  in  expressing  which  he  was  rerx 
sincere  and  candid.    Candor  belonged  to  his  character. 

1.  He  had  ever  been  scrupulously  moral.  From  a  child 
he  had  known  the  scriptures,  in  which  the  law  of  God  is 
the  principal  thing^>  and  had  comformed  his  life  to  its 
rigid  requirements.  As  our  Lord  named  the  stern  com- 
mands of  the  decalogue,  he  could  say  without  falsehood : 
"all  these  have  I  kept  from  my  j'outli  up.""  Doubtless  he 
would  not  have  affirmed,  that  he  had  never  been  guilty  of 
a  violation  of  one  of  these  precepts;  but  that  he  had 
never  allowed  himself  in  any  infraction  of  them ;  but  had 
made  conscience  of  conformity  of  them  from  his  earliest 
recollection:  for  the  man  never  lived,  who  could  pretend  to 
more.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  as  son,  as  neighbor,  as 
citizen,  as  ruler,  and  he  may  have  been  a  Sanhedrist,  for 
such  is  the  meanino;  of  the  word :   the  same    which  defines 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  247 

the  position  of  Nicoderaus ;  he  had  made  it  his  rulino^  pur- 
pose to  square  his  conduct  by  the  law  of  God;  and  "to 
keep  a  conscience  void  of  offence  toward  God  and  man." 

This  was  no  vain  boast;  for  we  are  told  that  on  his 
saying;  this,  the  Savior  fixed  his  gaze  upon  him  with  such 
an  expression  in  his  speakino-  eyes,  as  showed  the  deepest 
tenderness  and  pity:  "Jesus  looking,-  upon  him  loved  him." 
His  emotion  was  not  concealed:  his  disciples  observed  it, 
and  it  was  to  him  more  than  meat  and  drink  to  instruct 
the  inquirer.  He,  who  pitied  his  murderers  in  the  midst  of 
their  cruelty,  was  moved  with  an  intense  yearning  to- 
wards a  sincere  seeker.  In  this  young  man,  the  harshness 
of  human  nature  had  been  repressed;  and  its  amiable 
traits  had  been  fostered.  The  sect  of  moralists  could  not 
have  had  a  more  unexceptionable  representative.  Bred  in 
the  straitest  rules  of  rigid  Judaism,  he  stood  a  living  ex- 
ample of  honesty,  honor,  purity  and  family  affection. 

The  religion  of  the  day  brought  forward  its  most  worth}^ 
votary;  and  he  is  such  as  all  ever  admire:  and  we  stand 
with  bated  breath  to  hear  the  verdict  of  him  who  is  the 
truth  in  the  case.  The  feelings  of  the  judge  are  favorable 
to  the  applicant,  forbidding  any  undue  severity  of  deci- 
sion. He  is  to  be  weighed  in  the  balances  of  the  sanctuary, 
by  him  to  whom  God  has  committed  all  judgment.  If  he 
does  not  pass  the  scrutiny,  no  member  of  the  human 
family  will  ever  be  able  to  stand  on  his  own  merits.  This 
then  is  a  judgment  of  the  race,  rather  than  of  a  single 
individual;  and  one,  in  which  every  man  should  have  a 
lively  interest. 

2.  He  was  yet  unhappy,  most  unhappy,  though  blessed 
with  abundance,  and  able  to  gratify  every  reasonable  want. 
The  most  miserable  character  on  earth  is  the  one  which  we 
designate  as  the  almost  Christian;  possessing  too  much 
light  and  knowledge  to  find  joy  in  unholy  indulgences;  not 
daring  any  defiance  of  right  and  truth;  and  still  having  no 
joy  in  God.  Morality  the  most  rigid  can  never  make  a 
man  happy :  indeed  it  makes  us  most  unhappy.  AVhen 
alarnjed  by  fears  of  the  future,  we  hold  ourselves  most 
sternly  to  the  demands  of  the  law  of  God,  our  misery  only 
grows:  our  life  is  a  continual  repression.    An  intolerable 


248  SKETCHES  FROM   THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

constraint  is  upon  us,  exertino-  its  malio-n  force  without  in- 
termission. The  soul  of  such  a  one  is  like  an  arid  desert, 
in  wnich  no  fountain  of  living  water  springs  up  from  its 
own  depths. 

Often  in  thoughts  from  the  visions  of  the  night,  when 
deep  sleep  falleth  upon  men,  fear  comes  upon  him,  and 
trembling  which  makes  all  his  bones  to  shake.  An  image 
is  before  his  eyes,  and  he  hears  a  voice  saying:  "Shall 
mortal  man  be  more  just  than  God?''  At  such  times  "God 
openeth  the  ears  of  men  and  sealeth  their  instruction."  In 
the  privacy  of  his  soul  this  man  knew  that  all  was  not 
right  with  him ;  he  was  not  satisfied  with  himself ;  and  his 
spirit  often  sank  with  fear.  A  soul  unreconciled  to  God  can 
know  no  peace;  but  is  like  a  living  organism  out  of  its 
proper  element.  Man  has  innate  longings  for  God  and 
immortality,  which  no  worldliness  can  stifle,  nor  even  vice 
eradicate. 

Possessing  an  insatiable  desire  for  knowledge,  he  most  of 
all  desires  to  know  God.  He  has  a  capacity  of  affection 
greater  than  he  feels  for  earthly  friends;  the  throne  of  his 
heart  is  vacant,  and  waiting  for  a  sovereign  to  occupy  it. 
His  spiritual  necessities  demand  something  more  than  this 
w^orld  can  furnish.  These  ungratified  aspirations  embitter 
life.  Such  was  this  young  ruler,  who  was  moved  to  seek 
from  the  Nazarene  a  knowledge  of  what  would  meet  and 
satisfy  the  demands  of  his  immortal  being.  Respectability, 
honor,  religiousness  recommended  him :  let  us  hear  the 
testing. 

He  ran  with  eage,  ness  and  u]ion  his  knees  he  asked : 
"Good  Master,  what  good  thing  shall  I  do  that  I  may  have 
eternal  life?"  Our  Savior's  reply  was  directly  to  the  point. 
"Why  callest  thou  me  good?"  It  was  equivalent  to  say- 
ing, the  main  thing  is  to  recognize  my  real  personality. 
You  address  me  as.  a  prophet ;  yet  you  kneel  to  me  in  the 
semblance  of  a  worshippei*.  You  acknowledge  me  as  a 
good  man ;  and  yet  if  I  am  a  good  man,  if  I  am  true,  I 
am  more  than  man.  Do  you  mean  that  you  worship  me 
as  God?  ^ly  claims  are  real :  my  works  are  true  wit- 
nesses, that  the  Father  hath  sent  me.  Am  I  also  divine? 
None  is  good  but  God  only. 


HISTOEICAL  AND  DOCTEINAL.  249 

This  is  the  one  fundamental  point  of  Christianity,  the 
sine  qua  noii  of  true  rehgion.  Yet  it  did  not  seem  to  im- 
press the  mind  of  the  incpiirer  with  the  weight  which  its 
importance  merited.  As  he  made  no  avowal  of  conviction 
of  the  high  character  of  his  "teacher,"  Ave  are  forced  to* 
believe  that  he  did  not  apprehend,  that  he  was  above 
prophets.  The  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ  is  the  hardest  doc- 
trine of  the  word  of  God  for  a  moralist  to  receive.  In  the 
face  of  testimony,  he  will  deny  or  ignore  it;  and  wrest 
the  scriptures  to  rid  himself  of  it,  though  the  attempt  is 
like  blotting  the  sun  out  of  the  sky.  In  his  creed  there  is 
no  room  for  a  divine  Savior,  because  he  feels  no  need  for 
such  a  helper.  If  man  needs  only  to  be  enlightened,  stimu- 
lated, and  encouraged,  he  looks  for  an  accredited  teacher. 
This  was  the  ruler's  position.  If  he  needs  to  be  redeemed 
from  an  endless  suffering,  and  from  sin,  which  is  the  pro- 
curing cause  of  it,  he  must  look  for  a  divine  redeemer. 

This  inquirer  expected  to  be  saved  by  some  "good  thing" 
that  himself  should  do  or  suffer,  not  knowing  that  a  man 
cannot  be  his  own  savior.  His  eyes  were  not  opened  to 
see  the  utterness  of  his  need.  A  sense  of  guilt  is  the  "eye 
salve"  that  enables  a  sinner  to  see.  It  opens  the  fountains 
of  tears  that  wash  out  the  beams  that  prevent  sight.  The 
entrance  of  light  gives  excruciating  pain :  but  salutary  is 
the  pain  which  truth  produces.  It  pierces  like  a  sharp, 
two-edged  sword  with  a  death-thrust ;  but  healing  and  res- 
urrection follow.  The  gospel  becomes  "tidings"  never  heard 
before;  man  needs  a  Savior;  a  truth  never  apprehended 
before;  the  w'hole  scheme  of  gospel  doctrine  presents  itself 
in  a  new  significance.  The  one  truth  that  sheds  this  new 
light  over  all  is  the  supreme  deity  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Our  Lord's  further  direction  was  well  calculated  to  make 
known  to  him  his  deficiencies:  "but  if  thou  wilt  enter  into 
life,  keep  the  commandments."  And  when  the  young  man 
asked:  "which,"  as  though  in  doubt  whether  the  precepts 
of  the  moral,  or  the  ordinances  of  the  ceremonial  law^  were 
intended,  our  Lord  in  reply  enumerated  the  commands  of 
the  second  table,  omitting  entirely  the  duty  which  we  owe 
to  God. 


250  SKETCHES   FROM   THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

The  garbled  epitome  of  the  law,  which  our  Savior  recited, 
could  hardly  fail  of  sounding  ridiculous  in  the  ears  of  a 
devout  and  instructed  Jew,  who  carried  the  shema  upon 
his  forehead,  and  it  must  have  been  full  of  suggestion  to 
■  the  hearers.  The  sura  of  the  first  table,  "thou  shalt  love 
the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy 
soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind,  and  with  all  thy  strength," 
which  is  the  first  and  the  great  command  of  the  law,  was 
utterly  ignored.  Compliance  with  this,  the  first,  secures 
obedience  to  the  second. 

This  enumeration  of  our  Lord  was  designed  to  teach 
the  hearer  that  in  his  obedience,  he  confined  himself  wholly 
to  the  discharge  of  his  duties  to  men,  unmindful  entirely 
of  that  supreme  duty  which  he  owed  to  God,  and  came 
short  in  the  essential  and  fundamental  basis  of  all  religion. 
The  disinclination  of  men  to  believe  in  God,  or  to  yield 
obedience  or  affection  if  the^'  do  believe,  is  perhaps  the 
strangest  phenomenon  of  human  experience.  If  pretended 
science  can  form  a  plausible  theor^^  of  existence  without 
the  necessity  of  a  creator,  by  which  the  present  condition 
of  things  could  exist,  as  the  result  of  forces  other  than  the 
agency  of  a  self-existing  God,  how  open  to  conviction  is 
the  human  mind!  "The  fool,"  i.  e.,  every  unconverted  man 
"hath  said  in  his  heart,  no  God."  Atheism  is  the  universal 
sin:  and  it  is  nothing  less  than  moral  insanity.  If  men 
are  forced  by  incontrovertible  evidence  to  admit  the  per- 
sonality of  the  infinite,  and  to  acknowledge  a  God ;  the 
belief  has  little  influence  on  the  feelings  or  conduct. 

There  is  a  strange  insensibility  to  argunient  and  to  a 
sense  of  obligation  as  well.  God  is  excluded  from  the  creed 
if  possible,  and  from  the  affections  universally.  Man  was 
created  to  glorify  God  and  enjoy  him  here:  but  from  his 
heart  God  is  excluded  altogether.  This  3'oung  ruler  was 
like  all  others,  "without  God  in  the  world;"  and  our  Lord's 
method  of  discovering  this  to  him  was  one  that  would  tell 
upon  a  Jew. 

God  is  not  only  to  be  believed  in;  but  to  have  our  heart 
and  soul  and  mind  and  strengtii,  The  love  which  he  re- 
quires is  to  be  based  on  a  correct  understanding  of  his 
character.    If  the  views  entertained  of  him  do  not  corres- 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  251 

pond  witli  the  scripture  representations,  any  emotion  which 
we  may  feel  towards  the  unreal  being-  of  our  own  fancy,  is 
an  offering  to  a  false  God.  Love  to  him  is  not  an  admi- 
ration for  the  great  author  of  nature;  it  is  not  a  senti- 
mentalism  toward  the  parent  of  our  being;  it  is  a  real  and 
warm  affection  towards  a  holy,  sin-hating  G*t)d,  connected 
with  a  true  repentance  for  our  own  sins.  How  careful 
Joshua  was  to  enforce  upon  the  Israelites,  when  they  in- 
sisted that  they  would  serve  the  Lord,  the  necessity  of  a 
correct  knowledge  of  him.  He  said:  "Ye  cannot  serve 
the  Lord,  for  he  is  a  hol^^  God;  he  is  a  jealous  God;  he 
w^ill  not  forgive  your  transgressions  nor  your  sins.  If  you 
forsake  him  he  will  turn  and  do  you  hurt,  and  consume 
you  after  that  he  hath  done  you  good.'' 

If  any  one  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible  is  denied,  the  ob- 
ject of  worship  is  changed,  and  a  new  and  false  god  receives 
our  allegiance.  Love  of  him  is  to  be  sincere;  love  to  our 
dearest  friends  is  a  conscious  emotion;  he  demands  a  love 
stronger  than  we  feel  for  them,  or  for  our  own  life.  Real 
affection  is  unmistakable;  being  a  conscious  delight  in  the 
object  of  our  attachment,  binding  us  by  the  most  tender 
bonds,  and  rendering  separation  worse  than  death;  as  it 
entails  while  continued  the  loss  of  all  happiness  and  joy. 
Will  he  accept  any  less?  He  is  to  be  "our  exceeding  joy,'" 
"we  are  to  delight  ourselves  in  him,"  and  make  him  "our 
exceeding  great  reward." 

What  less  does  he  demand  when  he  requires  to  be  loved 
wdth  all  the  heart  i.  e.  the  hidden  spring  of  our  being  and 
with  all  the  soul  i.  e.  all  our  sensitive  emotions;  with  all 
the  mind  i.  e.  our  power  of  thought,  and  with  all  the 
strength  i.  e.  with  all  the  resources  of  our  service.  He  is 
the  God  of  love;  his  throne  is  the  government  of  love;  his 
law,  the  law  of  love;  the  force  by  which  he  conquers  is  the 
irresistible  power  of  love;  his  happiness,  the  happiness  of 
love  gratified  in  blessing.  He  calls  himself  "a  jealous  God :" 
and  Avhat  is  jealousy  but  the  excess  of  love,  the  insanity  of 
love?  He  loves  the  race  of  man  and  has  done  so  much  for 
them,  that  he  looks  with  jealousy  upon  any  rival  to  him- 
self in  our  affections. 


252  SKETCHES  FROM   THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

Without  this  love  to  him  men  can  render  no  acceptable 
obedience.  Did  "I  give  all  my  goods  to  feed  the  poor  or 
m^' body  to  be  bnrned;  without  love  itprofiteth  me  nothing." 
(xod  asks  not  gifts  and  sacrifices;  but  real,  genuine  and 
ardent  love.  In  this  our  great  duty  to  God,  the  young- 
ruler  was  wholly  deficient;  while  our  Savior  took  the  most 
direct  way  of  setting  before  him  his  shortcoming,  it  seems 
that  he  did  not  apprehend  the  application,  and  asked: 
"What  lack  I  yet?''  It  became  necessary  to  designate  the 
idol  that  robbed  God  of  his  affection;  and  this  the  Lord 
hastened  to  do.  His  answer  was:  "Sell  all  that  thou  hast, 
and  give  to  the  poor,  and  come,  take  up  the  cross  and 
follow  me."  This  is  the  idol;  and  Dagon  must  fall  before 
the  ark  of  God.  The  young  inquirer  was  thoroughly 
stunned  by  this  announcement;  for  he  had  great  possessions, 
and  trusted  in  his  riches,  with  the  confidence  due  to  God 
only. 

The  twelve  gathered  more  closely  around,  and  held  their 
breath  with  measureless  astonishment  to  hear  the  decision 
of  their  own  fate.  The  holy  one,  who  cannot  be  deceived 
and  will  not  be  mocked,  insists  on  the  uttermost  farthing 
of  his  just  demands.  He  alone  is  to  be  trusted,  and  he  is 
to  be  loved  with  a  consuming  affection.  The  young  man 
"was  grieved  at  that  saving."  Deep  silence  fell  upon  the 
company.  His  sorrow  may  have  shown  itself  in  tears: 
for  he  was  a  most  sincere  inquire]-.  Even  the  enemies  said: 
"Master,  we  know  that  thou  art  true;  and  that  thou 
teachest  the  way  of  God  in  truth;  and  that  thou  carest 
not  for  any  man ;  lOr  thou  acceptest  not  the  person  of 
men."  Jesus  offered  him  a  place  among  his  apostles,  who 
with  prophets  will  yet  stand  immeasurably  the  highest  of 
mankind.  Had  he  surrendered  all.  Christ  was  ready  to  ful- 
fill to  him  the  promise  of  a  hundred  fold  more  in  this  life, 
and  in  the  world  to  come  life  everlasting. 

An  honor  far  above  an  ordinary  believer's  was  held  out 
to  him :  to  be  numbered  with  Peter  and  Paul,  and  John 
and  Moses,  among  the  noblest  benefactors  of  the  race;  to 
have  his  name  now  unknown  handed  down  to  the  latest 
ages,  as  an  associate  and  an  apostle  of  Jesus;  to  have 
part  in  the  first   resurrection;  to    sit  on   thrones   at   the 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  253 

judgment  of  the  great  dav:  but  his  houses  and  lands  and 
station  were  too  dear  to  him.  At  the  first  news  of  his 
conversion,  he  might  look  for  expulsion  from  the  Sanhe- 
drin,  and  even  from  the  synagogue.  The  cross  meant 
poverty,  reproach,  peril  of  life,  war  from  friends  and  kin- 
dred, and  all  that  is  formidable  to  the  flesh. 

A  soul  was  hovering  between  heaven  and  hell,  the  crisis 
of  destiny  was  being  passed,  eternal  interests  were  in  the 
balance,  the  inward  conflict  was  severe.  Jesus  with  su- 
preme pity  shining  in  his  countenance,  awaited  the  de- 
cision. The  young  man  was  left  to  the  freedom  of  his 
own  choice.  Not  an  abatement  of  the  conditions  was 
offered;  not  a  word  of  concession,  to  catch  a  conspicuous 
follower.  Truth  and  duty  are  stern  as  Sinai.  None  can 
enter  into  the  service  of  Christ,  but  with  his  own  full,  in- 
telligent consent.  The  whole  case  was  before  this  young- 
man:  and  the  decision  was  one  for  the  judgment  day. 
This  was  the  opportunity  of  his  life. 

Eternal  destinies  are  often  decided  in  a  short  space; 
when  light  and  motive  concentrate  upon  the  soul;  and 
the  question  of  a  full  surrender  comes  up  with  engrossing- 
power;  and  the  whole  soul  is  attentive  to  the  claims  of 
God  and  duty;  and  their  power  is  felt  as  never  before. 
Such  a  period  is  the  harvest  season  of  eternity.  Infinite 
interests  may  hang  upon  the  conduct  of  an  hour:  they 
have  often  depended  on  the  decision  of  a  brief  trial.  "He 
went  away  sorrowful."  He  desired  eternal  life;  but  the 
terms  were  too  severe.  Dante  well  calls  this  the  great  re- 
fusal; as  the  highest  position  on  earth  and  in  heaven  was 
declined  for  the  brief  enjoyments  of  a  vain  and  transient 
life  here.  While  the  conflict  in  the  mind  of  this  young  man 
was  in  progress,  the  Savior's  countenance  beamed  with 
pity,  and  his  eyes  were  fixed  upon  hin  in  yearning  solici- 
tude:  ''looking  upon  him  he  loved  him." 

The  twelve  were  beyond  measure  astonished  at  the  un- 
compromising requirements  made  of  this  most  sincere  and 
seemingly  humble  and  amiable  inquirer.  Their  thoughts 
were  full  of  the  dignities  and  emoluments  of  an  earthly 
kingdom.  It  was  to  them  a  revelation;  that  a  follower  of 
their  master  was  to    give  up  his  riches,   and  abandon  his 


254  SKETCHES   FROM   THE    LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

earthly  prospects,  and  take  the  vow  of  perpetual  poverty. 
It  dashed  their  preconceived  hopes  and  expectations  to  a 
rude  downfall.  They  had  been  privateh'  dividing;  among 
themselves  the  chief  positions  with  occasional  bitterness;  and 
looking  forward  to  an  earthly  exaltation,  of  which  riches 
formed  one  of  the  most  enticing-  features.  Suddenly  it  was 
revealed;  that  the  greatest  obstacle  on  earth  to  the  salva- 
tion of  the  soul  lay  in  great  possessions,  which  were  "the 
snare  of  the  devil."  There  can  be  no  compromise  between 
God  and  mammon.  If  a  man's  soul  is  too  strongl3''  wedded 
to  worldly  good,  Christ's  prescription  is  a  total  aban- 
donment. Blessed  are  they,  who  can  retain  the  ownership 
of  large  possessions,  and  account  themselves  stewards  of 
the  manifold  grace  of  God. 

But  does  this  teach  that  no  rich  man  can  be  saved?  or 
no  man  whose  soul  cleaves  to  money  as  to  life?  He  cer- 
tainly teaches  that  the  sacrifice  of  all  is  hard;  but  not 
impossible;  hard  as  for  a  camel  to  go  through  a  needle's 
eye;  but  still  possible  by  the  help  of  God.  Had  this  young 
ruler  followed  the  example  of  the  agonized  father,  who 
prayed:  "Lord  help  my  unbelief"  and,  savingly  convinced 
of  the  authority  of  the  teacher,  who  demanded  his  abso- 
lute obedience,  under  a  sense  of  his  guilty  inability  to  com- 
ply with  the  requirement,  humbly  asked  for  help  in  his 
weakness,  he  would  have  received  that  help  instantly. 
Weak  men  and  women  have  been  able  by  the  help  of  God 
to  sacrifice  everything,  even  life  itself  joyfully.  God  has 
"strengthened  them  with  might  by  his  spirit  in  the  inner 
man."  He  can  stiffen  a  broken  reed,  till  it  shall  defy  the 
tempest  that  uproots  or  breaks  off  the  old  gnarled  oak. 
He  can  make  a  worm  "thresh  the  mountains  and  beat 
them  small,  and  make  the  hills  as  chaff  and  the  wind  shall 
carr^'  them  away  and  the  whirlwind  shall  scatter  them." 
"Let  him  trust  in  the  Lord;  for  in  the  Lord  Jehovah  is 
everlasting  strength." 

In  the  most  natural  manner  possible,  Peter  uncertain 
about  the  nature  of  the  rewards,  which  the  Saviour  prom- 
ised, if  riches  and  dignities  were  not  included,  asked:  "Lo, 
we  have  left  all  and  followed  thee;  what  shall  we  have 
therefore?"  Jesus  answered:   "Verily  I  say  unto  you,  that 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  255 

ye  which  have  followed  me  in  the  regeneration,  when  the 
son  of  man  shall  sit  on  the  throne  of  his  glory,  ye  also 
shall  sit  upon  twelve  thrones,  judging  the  twelve  tribes  of 
Israel." 

This  promise  may  point  to  grandeur  inconceivable:  yet 
is  followed  b\^  the  parable  of  the  householder,  which 
teaches,  that  they  which  were  first  hired  into  God's  vine- 
yard, and  who  had  borne  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day, 
should  be  rewarded  only  "every  man  a  penny,'' and  not  more 
than  the  others,  who  had  been  hired  at  the  eleventh  hour. 
By  this  teaching  all  their  unholy  contentions  about  the 
first  and  highest  places  was  most  wisely  checked :  and  they 
were  made  to  feel  that,  though  they  were  the  first  enlisted, 
the^^  might  be  less  worthy  in  the  sight  of  God  than  some 
of  the  last.  Eewards  were  to  be  left  to  the  unerring  deci- 
sion of  the  all-wise  God,  who  will  appoint  to  all  his  ser- 
vants infinitely  above  their  merit. 

A  single  conversation  of  the  Nazarene  has  often  had  a 
greater  infiuence  on  society  and  the  world,  than  all  human 
influences  combined.  Six  thousand  years  of  human  wisdom 
often  do  not  teach  as  much,  as  a  single  sentence  of  the 
Galilean.  His  words  on  this  occasion  sank  into  the  hearts 
of  the  apostles,  and  their  fruit  appeared  in  the  sacrifices 
of  the  Pentecostal  Church.  The  "vow  of  poverty,  chastity 
and  obedience,"  taken  by  so  many  thousands  since,  had  its 
original  here.  The  drift  of  his  meaning  may  have  been 
mistaken:  false  and  exaggerated  interpretations  may  have 
been  made  of  his  words:  it  still  remains  true;  that  he  has 
done  more  to  mould  and  influence  the  world,  than  all  the 
beings  together,  who  have  lived  upon  it  from  the  beginning. 

He  speaks;  and  the  ages  listen.  His  words  like  the  bit 
of  leaven  will  yet  prevade  and  move  the  entire  world.  How 
tender  was  our  Lord  in  dealing  with  his  disciples:  as  he 
marked  their  deep  disappointment  in  the  terms  of  his  ser- 
vice, he  encourages  them  by  stating  the  terms  as  mildly  as 
possible.  He  addresses  them  as  "little  children;"  the  word 
used  by  him  is  a  term  of  endearment,  and  repeats  "how 
hard  it  is  for  them,  that  trust  in  riches  to  enter  the  king- 
dom of  God!"  and  assures  them  that  however  great  the 
sacrifice  required;  the  help  of  God  would  be  freely  given  to 
those  who  asked  it,  to  make  the  sacrifice  possible. 


256  SKETCHES  FROM  THE   LIFE  OF  JESUS. 


CHAPTER  XXV 


THE  CONVERSION  OF  ZACCHEUS,    LUKE  XIX, 


The  work  of  Augustus  consisted  in  consolidating  the  pro- 
vinces of  the  Roman  Empire  into  a  homogeneous  body, 
and  estabhshing  uniformity  of  government  throughout  the 
whole.  He  extended  the  Roman  census  over  a  large  part 
of  the  world,  and  established  the  system  of  tax  collecting 
which  the  Ottoman  Turks  practice  to  this  day  in  the  same 
countries.  If  he  were  not  the  father  of  the  method,  he  at 
least  adopted  it,  and  made  it  general.  Time  has  shown 
that  no  more  vicious  arrangement  could  be  devised,  than 
that  of  selling  out  to  the  highest  bidder  the  collection  of 
the  revenues  of  a  province;  leaving  him  aided  by  all  the 
local  authorities  and  magistrates,  creatures  of  the  admin- 
istration, to  extort  all  that  he  possibly  could  from  the 
helpless  victims  in  his  power,  having  no  chance  of  redress. 

This  method  cannot  fail  to  paralyze  all  industries, 
smother  enterprise,  lay  an  embargo  on  commerce,  and 
educate  a  race  of  shuffling,  cunning  deceivers,  who  live 
chiefly  by  duplicity  and  fraud..  The  progress  of  the  collect- 
ing officers  was  like  the  ravages  of  a  desolating  storm ; 
and  the  keenest  ingenuity  was  continually  inventing 
methods  of  concealment,  needed  in  order  to  escape  intol- 
erable extortion.  The  iron  teeth,  and  the  claws  of  brass, 
and  the  stamping  with  his  feet  were  all  matters  of 
bitter  experience. 

For  the  people  of  Israel  to  come  under  the  operation  of 
such  a  system,  was  to  descend  from  almost  the  freedom  of 
a  republic  to  the  bondage  of  a  grinding  despotism.  It  is 
no  wonder  that  an  exasperation  existed ;  which,  aided  br- 
other causes,  grew  at  length  to  the  most  fierce  and  bloody 
fanaticism.  The  tax  and  its  mode  of  collection  were  the 
first   grievance  of  the   nation.     The  hideous,    nondescript 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  257 

beast  of  prophesy  was  sucking  the  blood,  not  of  the  slain; 
but  of  the  living.  The  empire  required  one-tenth  of  all  the 
grain,  and  two-tenths  of  the  fruits  which  were  the  farmer's 
staple  crop,  olives,  dates,  figs  and  raisins.  It  taxed  all  in- 
dustries in  a  like  ratio,  and  even  imposed  a  poll-tax  upon 
females. 

Such  imposts  annulled  the  tithing  which  the  Mosaic 
law  required  for  the  temple;  and  demoralized  the  nation; 
reducing  their  religious  observances  to  a  minimum,  driving 
their  priests  into  secular  pursuits,  and  depriving  the  tem- 
ple of  its  necessary  supplies.  A  native  born  Jew,  who 
would  lend  himself  a,  willing  tool  in  carrying  out  this  sys- 
tem of  oppression,  might  almost  as  well  be  dead  as  alive. 
He  was  at  once  cast  out  of  the  synagogue:  a  penalty 
which  in  a  free  and  protestant  country,  we  can  hardly  ap- 
preciate. Like  the  papal  interdict  of  the  middle  ages,  it 
placed  the  man  on  whom  it  fell,  in  perfect  isolation  from 
his  fellows.  No  Jew  would  buy  from  or  sell  to  him.  None 
would  visit  his  family,  or  hold  friendly  intercourse  with 
him  or  them ;  but  avoid  them  as  they  would  the  pestilence; 
not  saluting  them  in  the  way,  or  recognizing  or  aiding 
them.;  under  peril  of  similar  excommunication.  This  has 
ever  been  one  of  the  most  powerful  weapons  of .  the 
papacy;  and  has  ever  brought  the  most  recreant  offenders 
to  reason. 

Such  was  Zaccheus,  an  outcast  from  his  own,  and  an  asso- 
ciate of  Gentiles  and  heathen  only,  and  branded  as  infamous. 
He  had  however  deliberately  incurred  all  this  scorn  and 
loss  from  his  great  greed  of  money.  He  had  not  bartered 
his  soul  for  gold ;  but  had  given  up  all  that  made  life  de- 
sirable for  himself  and  family  for  lucre.  Only  the  most 
sordid  of  men  could  make  such  a  sacrifice;  one  whose  god 
was  gold.  In  pursuance  of  his  object  he  had  hauled  men 
before  the  subservient  magistrates,  and  by  false  accusation 
had  taken  the  bread  from  the  mouths  of  children,  and  com- 
forts from  the  abodes  of  poverty;  and  thereby  g-ained  a 
hateful  notoriet3\  HeM-as  breasting  the  current  with  an  utter 
shipwreck  of  conscience,  and  fighting  a  battle  in  which  he 
was  a  foe  to  his  kind ;  and  worse  than  a  wild  beast  was 
preying  upon  his  own  species. 
—17 


258  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

In  order  to  apprehend  his  present  state  of  feelino-.  we 
must  consider  tlie  ordeal  throuo-h  which  he  was  passino". 
Althou<;li  regeneration  is  instantaneous  in  its  occurrence, 
yet  it  is  also  the  outcome  of  a  process  often  long  protrac- 
ted. In  the  midst  of  this  process  was  Zaccheus  at  this  very 
season.  The  deserved  scorn  of  our  fellow-men  may  be  made 
a  powerful  factor  in  producing  intense  conviction  of  ill- 
desert;  inasmuch  as  it  may  be  made  to  voice  the  condem- 
nation of  a  holy  God.  If  men  hate  us  justly  for  our  crimes, 
our  sins  continue  ever  before  us.  We  are  reminded  at  every 
turn,  and  through  every  moment,  of  their  condemnation; 
and  their  judgments,  concentrated  like  the  rays  of  the  sun 
through  a  glass,  may,  if  God  bless  the  means,  rouse  the 
sleeping  conscience  to  hear  the  voice,  that  from  the  burn- 
ing mount  thunders  its  curse  to  the  inmost  soul.  When 
God  speaks  the  dead  hear. 

Zaccheus  was  a  lonely  man  in  the  midst  of  the  crowd. 
Cut  off  from  the  world,  his  soul  was  more  open  to  commu- 
nion with  itself,  and  with  the  unseen  ;  and  he  may  have  been 
in  that  most  interesting  attitude,  when  sick  of  the  world, 
disgusted  with  himself,  weary  of  life,  and  afraid  of  the  fu- 
ture, he  was  ever  hearing  the  still  small  voice  of  conscience 
swelling  anon  to  thunder  tones ;  and  ever  pondering  deeply, 
"AYill  God  cast  off  forever?  will  he  be  favorable  no  more? 
hath  he  in  anger  shut  up  his  tender  mercies?"  It  was 
those  whom  the  world  cast  out,  that  ever  showed  them- 
selves the  most  readj^  to  receive  Jesus  Christ  in  his  true 
character.  Instances  of  this  are  the  penitent  woman  in  the 
house  of  Simon  thS  Pharisee,  the  crucified  nmlefactor  on 
Calvary,  and  the  excommunicated  publican. 

A  soul,  oppressed  with  a  sense  of  sin's  desert,  has  eyes 
■•to  see  a  Savior,  while  others  are  blind.  Zaccheus  heard 
with  a  wild  throbbing  of  heart,  that  the  holy  prophet  of 
Nazareth  was  approaching,  and  would  pass  through  Jericho. 
Even  demoniacs  felt  a  strange  attraction  to  his  presence; 
and  Zaccheus,  determined  to  see  and  scrutinize  him,  ran 
before  and  climbed  up  into  a  sycamore  tree,  under  which 
he  would  necessarily  pass.  It  was  in  his  mind  who  in  all 
the  city  would  have  the  high  distinction  of  entertaining 
him.    Himself  a  publican  and  sinner  was  not  worthy  that 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL,  259 

he  should  enter  under  his  roof.  He  may  have  thought  that 
probably  the  purest  of  the  resident  priests  might  aspire  to 
the  honor. 

As  the  company  approached,  he  kuew  the  illustrious 
prophet  afar  off,  as  soon  as  he  saw  him.  There  was  no  mis- 
taking- the  central  figure.  His  countenance  once  seen  could 
never  be  mistaken,  nor  ever  forgotten.  A  heavenly  purity 
and  elevation  distinguished  him  at  once  far  above  what 
an  earthly  crown  could  bestow.  His  dignity  and  beauty 
were  from  himself,  and  not  from  outward  trappings,  which 
would  rather  have  detracted  from,  than  added  to  the  lustre 
of  his  presence.  To  adorn  the  sun  or  beautify  the  sky 
were  more  easy  than  to  add  in  conception  to  his  meek 
and  quiet  majesty. 

What  was  the  astonishment  of  the  publican,  almost 
hidden  in  the  leaves,  to  see  the  holy  prophet  cast  up  his 
eyes,  radiant  with  truth  and  love,  into  the  recesses  of  the 
tree,  and  call  Zaccheus  by  name,  and  invite  himself  to  be 
his  guest  during  his  stay!  No  orthodox  Jew  had  thus 
kindly  addressed  him  for  years,  or  stepped  over  his  thresh- 
old, or  more  than  tolerated  his  presence.  The  tone  of 
friendship  and  kindness  had  been  almost  forgotten.  The 
words  went  to  his  heart.  Paul's  cry  to  the  Philippian 
jailer,  "do  thyself  no  harm,"  contained  no  gospel  state- 
ment, yet  they  pierced  him  like  a  sword.  The  words  of 
Jesus  contained  a  great  truth,  namely,  that  Christ  was  not 
ashamed  of  him. 

The  Arctic  ice,  that  imprisons  and  crushes  the  stoutest 
ships,  grinding  them  between  its  mighty  floes,  had  been 
long  gathering  around  his  heart,  sending  hope  and  com- 
fort to  the  bottom  in  its  resistless  surges;  but  the  words 
of  Jesus  began  to  break  it  up.  That  infinite  purity  should 
be  united  with  love  to  sinners  is  a  mystery  still  unsolvable; 
but  they  spoke  in  every  word,  and  shone  in  eveiy  look  of 
the  Nazarene.  A  new  light  began  to  dawn  on  Zaccheus;  a 
revelation  from  heaven  sent  its  rays  down  at  once  into  the 
death-shade,  in  which  he  had  been  walking.  The  idea  that 
the  holy  one  might  yet  not  reject  him,  once  admitted  to 
his  soul,  became  a  hope,  and  took  immediate  root;  and 
brought  forth  buds;  and  bloomed  blossoms;   and  vielded 


260  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

almouds  at  once.  The  clouds  of  thick  darkness  which  had 
so  long  covered  him,  presagitio;  the  eternal  storm,  parted, 
revealing  the  bow  of  promise  set  in  the  clouds  as  the  token 
of  the  covenant.  He  made  haste,  came  down  and  received 
him  joyfull3\ 

Qui'  Lord  intended  to  spend  a  little  time  in  Jericho,  and 
to  be  the  guest  of  the  despised  publican.  The  citizens  of 
the  priestly  city  were  all  astonished  at  his  selection,  and 
none  more  so  than  Zaccheus  himself.  Severe  comments 
passed  freely  over  the  incono-ruity  of  his  choice;  and  the 
crowd  felt,  that  all  the  instincts  of  their  religion  were  vio- 
lated. They  had  forgotten  his  vindication  of  like  conduct 
formerly,  when  he  chose  a  publican  for  an  apostle.  "The 
whole  need  not  a  physician;  but  thej'  that  are  sick.  I 
came  not  to  call  the  righteous,  but  sinners  to  repentance." 

His  selection  never  agreed  with  the  expectations  of  the  peo- 
ple. When  from  the  cross  he  was,  in  the  very  hour  of  his 
weakness,  about  to  snatch  one  soul  from  the  pit  of  woe, 
and  take  him  with  him  to  Paradise  that  very  day :  upon 
whom  did  his  choice  fall?  Upon  the  thief  dying  at  his  side. 
He  became  the  victor's  trophy.  He  was  the  example  to 
manifest  that  in  the  hour  of  weakness,  Jesus  was  mighty 
to  save.  When  he  went  to  Nain  to  recall  to  life  the  widow's 
son  in  his  very  procession  to  the  grave:  whom  did  he  se- 
lect out  of  the  attendant  throng  as  the  object  from  which 
he  would  display  his  equally  effective  power  over  the  soul, 
to  deliver  it  from  its  death  in  trespasses  and  in  sins?  It  was 
the  harlot  who  followed  him  into  Simon's  house,  and 
washed  his  feet  with  tears,  and  wiped  them  with  the  hairs 
of  her  head. 

Christ  chose  the  subjects  of  his  grace  in  his  own  infinitely 
wise  and  sovereign  way.  His  mercy  alighted  on  such  as 
felt  the  burden  of  their  sin,  as  a  burden  too  heavy  to  be 
borne;  and  had  nothing  to  commend  them  but  the  utter- 
ness  of  their  need.  He  was  not  a  teacher  of  the  wise;  but 
a  Savior  of  the  lost.  His  conduct  was  wholly  in  accord 
with  all  the  teachings  of  the  New  Testament.  The  efforts 
of  the  Nazarene  and  of  his  forerunner,  were  simply  toward 
a  restoration  of  primitive  Judaism,  (rod  had  always  been 
seeking    among  men  not  in-born    righte<jusnes8 ;    but  true 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  2G1 

and  honest  repentance.  "Unto  this  man  will  I  look,  even 
to  him  that  is  of  an  humble  and  contrite  heart,  and  that 
trembleth  at  my  word." 

We  are  not  infornjed  whether  our  Lord  remained  a  day 
in  Jericho,  or  tarried  only  for  the  nig-ht :  neither  are  we 
informed  at  what  time  Zaccheus  announced  his  memorable 
determination.  It  was  not  probabl3'  at  his  first  introduc- 
tion to  Jesus ;  for  it  certainly  was  not  a  hasty,  but  a  well 
considered  conclusion;  not  adopted  amidst  the  surprise  of 
the  moment;  but  after  the  struggle  with  the  ruling  sin 
had  terminated,  and  a  calm  decision  had  been  reached.  A 
step  so  great  and  so  far-reaching  is  not  taken  in  a  mo- 
ment; neither  does  the  adversary  relinquish  his  hold,  while 
he  can  retain  it. 

It  was  probably  some  time  on  the  ensuing  day  that  Zac- 
cheus "stood,"  i.  e.  deliberately  assumed  a  conspicuous 
positioD,  before  the  Master  and  the  assembly,  and  bound 
himself  thus  to  the  discharge  of  what  he  realized  to  be  a 
solemn  duty,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  forbid  the  possibility 
of  his  receding.  He  was  evidently  determined,  by  every 
means  which  he  could  adopt,  to  fortify  his  resolution  of 
amendment;  and  burn  every  bridge  in  his  rear  to  prevent 
retreat. 

The  feature  of  this  proceeding,  which  recommended  it  to 
the  approval  of  the  Master,  and  the  notice  of  the  ages  was 
its  unquestionable  sincerity.  He  was  not  mocking  the 
Holy  One  with  solemn  words  or  flattering  lies;  but  declaring 
the  fixed  determination  of  his  soul.  Nothing  but  truth 
can  attract  the  attention  of  Jesus  Christ;  and  no  evil  did 
he  more  terribly  condemn  than  the  profession  without  cor- 
responding conduct.  The  publican  was  as  sincere  in  the 
relinquishment  of  his  unlawful  gains,  as  he  ever  had  been 
in  procuring  them.  He  was  reversing  the  whole  course  of 
his  previous  career.  When  sin  is  put  away,  it  is  rejected 
with  energy  and  loathing.  He  was  acting  before  the  great 
judge  of  all,  and  making  a  record  for  the  great  day  of 
accounts.  We  are  assured  that  he  did  not  fail  in  a  single 
instance  of  rectifying  his  wrong;  for  each  was  inscribed  in 
a  handwriting  of  fire  on  the  wall  of  memory;  nor  that  he 
withdrew  a  single  penny    from    the   full    proportion  of  his 


262  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

promise.  A  promise  made  to  man  is  too  solemn  to  be 
voided;  but  made  to  God  is  kept  to  the  full  letter  of  the 
agreement.  The  excellence  of  true  repentance  is  its  sincerity 
and  honesty;  and  of  this  Zaccheus  was  a  signal  example, 
not  faihng  to  execute  what  he  proposed.  Repentance  with- 
out restitution  is  an  empty  farce.  While  the  "accursed 
thing"  is  retained  in  our  hand,  or  buried  in  the  midst  of  our 
tent,  the  wrath  of  God  is  waxing  every  moment  hotter. 
Deeds  alone  will  satisf3^  the  divine  demands;  not  words  nor 
promises,  nor  prayers. 

His  resolution  embraces  two  points,  one  relating  to  the 
past,  another  to  the  present.  With  respect  to  the  past  it 
is:  "If  I  have  taken  aught  from  any  man  by  unjust  accu- 
sation; I  restore  him  fourfold."  In  this  he  refers  to  the  law 
contained  in  Ex.  22,  vs.  1:  "If  a  man  shall  steal  an  ox  or 
a  sheep,  and  kill  it  or  sell  it,  he  shall  restore  five  oxen  for 
an  ox,  and  four  sheep  for  a  sheep."  The  thief  of  smaller 
sums  is  to  restore  fourfold.  He  openly  classes  himself  as 
a  thief  in  every  such  case.  This  is  the  right  judgment 
in  every  case;  and  it  will  be  God's  judgment  in  the  great 
day,  when  the  heavens  and  earth  shall  pass  away.  All 
kinds  of  extortion,  swindling,  defrauding  with  the  consent 
of  the  injured  part}''  or  without  it,  are  stealing;  and  noth- 
ing less  than  downright  stealing;  and  stamp  the  actor  as 
a  thief.  God  will  write  it  such  upon  the  souls  of  trans- 
gi-essors  with  a  finger  of  fire.  He,  who  by  cunning  or 
force  or  superior  wit,  secures  what  is  not  of  right  his  own, 
is  a  thief.  He  that  takes  advantage  of  the  necessities  of 
another  to  extoi-t  lis  a  thief.  He  that  buys  what  he  knows 
that  he  cannot  paj^  for,  is  a  thief. 

The  man  who  retains  the  price  of  his  iniquity  in  his 
hands  may  deceive  himself,  but  he  is  wearing  the  mask  of 
righteousness  over  the  face  of  fraud  and  villainy.  In  the 
laws  of  Moses,  God  requires  restitution  to  be  made  after 
the  lapse  of  years,  and  when  the  party  wronged  is  slum- 
bering in  the  grave.  In  no  case  is  the  transgressor  to  re- 
tain his  unrighteous  gains,  even  when  he  who  sustained  the 
injui-y,  and  his  heirs  have  passed  away.  God  reckons  to  the 
uttermost  farthing,  and  it  is  wise  for  men  to  do  likewise. 
Truth  transparent  as  the  day,  and  lionesty  pure  as  the 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  263 

light  can  alone  pass  inspection  with  him,  "who  seeth  not 
as  man  seeth."  Repentance  is  to  be  honest,  thoroughg-o- 
ing  and  decided,  and  as  heart v  as  ever  was  the  transgres- 
sion. 

The  time  will  come,  when  unhallowed  gains  will  burn  the 
flesh ;  and  the  possessor  will  cast  them  awaj^  as  Judas  did 
the  thirty  pieces,  which  became  too  hot  with  the  fire  of 
hell  for  him  to  hold.  In  the  dying  hour  earthly  posses- 
sions will  seem  trifling  and  worthless,  and  it  will  appear 
passing  strange,  that  the  devil's  trap,  set  with  so  slight  a 
bait,  should  have  caught  our  souls.  The  wild  beast  is 
snared,  being  ignorant ;  but  men  rush  knowingly  into  the 
snares  of  the  devil.  The  bait  of  a  little  gold  takes  them 
easily. 

Well  Zaccheus  remembered  every  instance  in  which  he  had 
turned  the  official  screw  once  too  often  upon  the  unhappy 
victim  under  the  pressure  of  his  mill.  Glad  was  he  to  be 
rid  of  the  burden  by  the  payment  of  fourfold.  Not  that 
he  thus  atoned  for  his  misdoing ;  blood  divine,  and  not  the 
payment  of  gold  or  silver,  could  obliterate  the  guilt.  God's 
book  of  record,  which  will  be  opened  before  the  great  whice 
throne,  is  the  human  memory,  in  which  exists  a  transcript 
of  every  transaction  of  our  lives.  As  a  writing  in  invisible 
ink  shines  out  in  legible  characters  when  exposed  to  the  fire, 
so  the  fires  of  the  last  day  will  bring  out  everj-  copy  to  be 
clear  and  visible  in  the  record  of  our  actions;  and  men 
will  live  their  lives  over  again,  as  it  were,  when  standing 
before  the  burning  throne.  The  voice  of  conscience,  before 
still  and  small,  swells  into  the  sound  of  a  trumpet  exceed- 
ing loud,  so  that  all  the  people  in  the  uttermost  part  of 
the  camp  trembled  and  said:  "Let  not  God  speak  with 
us,  lest  we  die." 

Every  command  of  the  decalogue  is  to  be  interpreted 
with  the  same  rigor;  and  is  exceeding  broad,  reaching  to 
the  thoughts  and  intents  of  the  heart.  Our  Savior's  ex- 
IDlanations  of  them  in  his  sermon  on  the  mount  are  just 
according  to  the  decisions  of  an  awakened  conscience  re- 
specting our  own  transgressions.  Causeless  anger  and  like- 
wise hatred  and  envy  are  the  beginnings  of  murder;  they 
are  eggs  which,  if  they  reach  their  consummation,  will  each 


264  SKETCHES  FROM   THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

break  out  into  a  viper  and  work  destruction.  Malicious 
hatreds  constitute  nine-tenths  of  human  life.  His  teachings 
respecting  falsehood  are  more  terrible  still.  If  there  is  a 
sin  which  God  abhors  more  than  another,  it  is  a  lie.  It  is 
the  root  of  all  evil,  the  g-erm  of  hell.  A  lie  is  always  an 
afterthought;  the  truth  is  before  our  minds  whenever  we 
yield  to  falsehood.  Every  oath  or  affirmation  is  a  confes- 
sion that  our  word  is  not  to  be  taken  without  confirma- 
tion. ''Let  your  yea  be  yea,  and  your  nay,  nay;  for  what- 
soever is  more  than  these  cometh  of  evil."'  How  deep  he 
saw  into  the  human  heart!  We  should  search  ourselves  by 
the  light  which  he  gives,  knowing  that  the  ordeal  of  the 
last  day  will  be  according  to  his  interpretations,  when  the 
eyes  of  the  judge,  hke  a  fiame  of  "fire,  shall  pierce  to  the 
bottom  of  our  being  in  condemnation  and  irreversible 
doom. 

With  respect  to  the  second  point  in  his  avowed  determin- 
ation, nothing  could  better  ^express  the  very  spirit  of 
Christian  philanthropy.  As  to  the  property  which  was 
rightly  his  own  without  a  shadow  upon  the  title,  he  would 
divide  by  an  even  division  with  the  suffering  poor;  mak- 
ing his  own  selection  of  objects,  and  directing  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  funds  himself.  This  was  indeed  loving- 
others  as  himself,  doing  to  others  as  he  would  desire  to  be 
treated,  if  circumstances  were  changed.  The  widest  inter- 
pretation of  the  law  of  love  could  neither  demand  nor 
suggest  more  than  this;  this  fulfilled  the  requirement. 
While  our  hearts  burn  with  admiration  of  the  decision, 
and  the  spirit  whiel,  dictated  it;  we  remember  that  Zac- 
cheus  was  but  a  mirror  reflecting  the  glory  of  another. 
We  take  knowledge  of  him,  that  he  had  been  with  Jesus. 
What  more  than  magic  influence  attended  the  presence  of 
the  man  of  Nazareth?  He  was  the  friend  of  publicans  and 
sinners:  but  his  association  transformed  them;  the  hard- 
hearted publican  became  a  benefactor  of  his  kind ;  and  the 
penitent  Magdalene,  the  very  ideal  of  purity  and  love. 
This  companionship,  at  which  the  Pharisees  scoffed,  was 
the  greatest  glory  of  the  wonderful  personage  moving 
among  them. 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  265 

It  is  not  considered  strangle,  that  a  mau  should  give  up 
everything-  he  has,  to  save  liis  life.  Instances  occur  from 
time  to  time.  Some  time  in  the  fifties  the  ocean  steamer 
Central  America  went  down  in  the  mid-Atlantic,  on  which 
were  many  returning  forty-niners  from  California,  each 
with  his  belt  of  gold  dust  or  nuggets;  and  we  heard 
from  the  survivors,  that  when  it  sank,  its  cabin  floor  was 
literally  paved  with  gold,  which  the  miners  willingly  aban- 
doned in  order  to  save  their  lives.  The  result  of  the  labor 
of  years  was  cast  away  as  being  no  better  than  the  dust 
beneath  their  feet.  In  their  eyes  gold  was  nothing  com- 
pared with  life. 

Ought  the  sacrifice  of  money  and  property  to  be  con- 
sidered, when  there  is  a  question  about  the  saving  of  the 
soul?  Is  not  the  soul  worth  the  sacrifice?  Zaccheus  was 
in  earnest  in  his  contest  against  the  sin,  which  had  en- 
slaved him  ;  and  had  made  him  forfeit  the  esteem  of  the 
Avorld,  and  peril  his  soul's  salvation.  His  treatment  of  it 
was  heroic.  Of  course  all  was  done  spontaneously  without 
suggestion  from  any  quarter,  and  not  in  the  way  of  accumu- 
lating merit ;  but  in  order  to  give  himself  the  victory  over 
an  idol  to  which  he  had  sacrificed  everything,  and  a  lust 
which  had  degraded  him  into  a  wretch  no  better  than  the 
god  he  worshipped ;  and  had  dried  up  his  sympathies,  and 
hardened  his  heart.  He  was  not  required  to  abandon  his 
calling:  "let  every  man  remain  in  the  same  calling,  in 
which  he  was  called."  Jesus  unquestionably  placed  a  simi- 
lar estimate  on  worldly  possessions,  and  so  will  all  of  us 
in  the  solemn  hour  when  we  part  from  them  forever.  Suc- 
cess in  amassing  propert}^  feeds  the  appetite  till  it  becomes 
a  passion,  and  absorbs  the  whole  being.  Jesus  Christ  lays 
down  no  rule,  that  shall  apply  to  all  men  alike;  he  claims 
the  chief  place  in  our  affection  without  a  rival. 

There  were  among  the  Pentecostal  converts  those  who 
gave  all  their  possessions;  but  we  learn  from  Acts  v:  vs.  4, 
that  this  was  not  enforced  upon  any  one;  neither  was  thei'fe 
an  authoritative  command  requiring  it.  Whatever  was  done 
was  done  spontaneously,  and  from  the  impulse  of  the  individ- 
ual: and  the  fact  is  simply  recorded  as  a  matter  of  his- 
tory, rather  than  a  rule  to  regulate  the  conduct  of  to-day. 


266  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

Neither  is  it  proper  that  believers  in  Christ  should  re- 
nounce all  interests  in  the  world,  its  business,  its  enterpri- 
ses, in  the  advance  of  science,  and  the  progress  of  inven- 
tion, and  the  wordly  improvements  which  may  all  be  factors 
in  reo-enerating-  society'.  The  church  is  to  avoid  on  the  one 
hand  the  worldly  spirit,  which  is  the  most  formidable  foe 
of  godliness;  and  steer  clear  on  the  other  hand  of  such  in- 
difference to  earthly  things,  as  will  tend  to  a  jiaralysis  of 
worldly  activities,  and  a  stagnation  of  absolute  inertia, 
such  as  was  once  esteemed  as  holy  living  by  the  anchor- 
ites, and  recluses  of  the  middle  ages. 


%: 


HISTORICAL   AND   DOCTRINAL.  267 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


THE  RAISING  OF  LAZARUS 


Our  Lord's  miracles  became  more  and  more  striking  and 
impressive  to  the  very  close  of  his  ministrj^;  and  the  last 
public  one  recorded,  is  the  one,  that  exhibits  him  as  the  res- 
urrection and  the  life.  Among-  his  friends  and  even  among 
the  twelve  he  had  his  favorites.  This  is  itself  an  evidence 
of  his  perfect  humanity;  we  not  being  able  to  attribute  a 
preference  of  this  kind  to  absolute  divinity.  Socially,  and 
in  the  way  of  unreserved  friendship,  he  felt  a  greater  inter- 
est in  some  individuals  and  certain  families. 

We  can  indeed  discover  a  reason  for  his  preference  for 
Peter,  as  he  w^as  a  man  of  the  most  ardent  affection.  With 
great  weaknesses  and  faults,  his  love  for  Christ,  and  this 
alone  made  a  rock  of  him.  In  John  we  see  a  depth  of  feeling 
and  a  profounder  judgment  than  is  commonly  encountered. 
About  James  his  brother  we  know  less ;  but  in  mental  con- 
stitution, and  in  affection  he  was  probably  much  like  his 
brother.  Probably  also  in  every  place  which  our  Lord 
frequented,  he  found  a  family  in  which  he  not  only  was 
perfectly  at  home  as  a  man ;  but  whose  members  mani- 
fested the  strongest  human  friendship,  and  received  him  with 
a  more  unreserved  confidence  than  others.  His  preferences 
for  such  families  and  individuals  exhibits  strongly  the 
human  side  of  his  person  ah  t3^  his  capacity  of  enjoying  the 
delights  of  social  life,  and  the  charms  of  human  friendship. 

Such  was  his  attachment  to  the  family  of  Bethany.  He 
loved  Martha  the  bustling  business  woman;  lie  loved  Mary 
the  quiet,  intensely  affectionate  sister;  none  appreciated 
him  more  than  she;  he  loved  Lazarus;  for  Lazarus  loved 
him  better  than  life,  at  the  time  of  this  account.  Lazarus, 
the  youngest  of  the  family  had  been  languishing  in  sick- 
ness; but   for  the  love  of   Jesus,  they  sent    no  message  to 


2Q8  SKETCHES  FKOM  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

hini.  until  death  was  imminent ;  and  then  they  made  no 
request  for  his  presence.  And  this,  because  his  coming,  ex- 
cept at  the  regular  feasts,  when  the  whole  nation  assem- 
bled, would  have  been  the  signal  for  an  outbm'st  against 
him,  and  an  attempt  upon  his  life. 

The  loving  sisters  had  no  desire  to  induce  him  into  a 
visit,  in  which  his  life  would  certainly  be  jeopardized.  And 
therefore  they  waited  until  the  end  was  fast  approaching, 
before  the  messenger  was  dispatched  ;  who  returned  with 
the  assurance  that  "this  sickness  was  not  unto  death," 
which  to  the  sisters  meant  that  their  brother  should  not 
die;  but  that  the  master  would  come  and  heal  him:  for 
they  seemed  to  feel  that  his  personal  presence  was  neces- 
sary. The  Savior  added  other  words  also:  that  this  sick- 
ness should  be  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  especially  for  the 
glory  of  the  son  of  man :  but  before  the  messenger  returned 
or  soon  after,  death  terminated  the  whole  proceeding. 

They  perhaps  hoped  to  see  Jesus  himself  in"  company 
with  the  returning  messenger,  as  the  mission  had  been  so 
timed;  that  at  the  ordinary  rate  of  travel,  he  could  have 
been  present  before  the  final  catastrophe.  But  their  hopes 
seem  to  have  gone  out  with  the  extinction  of  the  life,  which 
they  had  so  assiduously  watched ;  and  the  sadness  of  a  dis- 
consolate bereavement  settled  with  unalleviated  gloom  upon 
them.  Death  has  in  it  something  so  fearful,  so  final,  so 
immutably  decisive;  that  when  it  supervened,  all  idea  of 
relief  vanished.  How  often  they  had  said  to  one  another, 
if  he  were  only  here:  why  does  he  not  come?  Can  it  be 
possible  that  he  will -not  come? 

Martha  was  of  a  class  to  be  impatient  and  full  of  worry: 
to  Marj'  it  belonged  to  say  less;  but  to  be  more  absorbed 
in  uncomplaining  anguish;  but  both  were  doomed  to  see 
the  last  ray  of  hope  expire  in  the  utter  darkness  of  the 
tomb.  The  end  came  at  last;  the  master  appeared  to 
have  preferred  his  own  safety;  and  to  have  chosen  not  to 
venture  to  the  dangerous  neighborhood  of  Jerusalem.  How 
little  they  knew  of  his  sympath}^,  which  felt  with  them 
every  pang ;  and  counted  and  treasured  every  tear ! 

He  says  to  the  disciples:  "I  am  glad  for  your  sakes,  that 
1  was  not  there;  to  the  end  that  ye  might   believe."    Had 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL,  2G9 

I  been  there.  I  could  not  have  resisted  the  tears  and  prayers 
of  those  raourniug  sisters;  and  Lazarus  would  not  have 
died,  and  been  broug-ht  back  from  the  grave.  The  full 
force  of  the  anguish  of  our  distress  he  feels  by  sympathy: 
and  the  piercing  keenness  of  all  our  suffering  is  fully  real- 
ized and  endured  by  him  ;  our  agonized  prayer  he  cannot 
resist;  but  is  overcome  by  it.  "Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his 
children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth.'' 

We  are  told  that  he  abode  two  days  still  in  the  place 
where  he  was ;  before  he  signified  his  intention  of  going  into 
Judea.  The  object  of  this  delay  unquestionably  was  to  sub- 
ject the  faith  of  the  sisters  to  the  severest  test  possible. 
A  firm  confidence  on  their  part  would  have  mitigated  or 
removed  their  sorrow  altogether  They  had  his  word,  "this 
sickness  is  not  unto  death;''  and  this  delay  was  calculated 
to  reveal  to  them,  how  far  they  were  from  a  child-like  trust 
in  him.  They  were  evidently  overwhelmed  by  their  affiic- 
tion;  and  in  it  possessed  little  sustaining  faith.  How  often 
they  repeated  to  each  other,  if  he  had  been  here  our  brother 
had  not  died. 

It  is  ever  thus:  "when  the  Lord  cometh,  shall  he  find 
faith  on  the  earth?"  In  the  best  of  Christians  not  more 
than  a  mustard  seed  faith  is  found  in  the  day  of  trial. 
Had  we  faith;  sorrow,  suffering  and  death  itself  would  have 
no  sting.  These  mourners  almost  felt  at  times  as  though 
Christ  had  deceived  them;  saying  "not  unto  death;"  while 
yet  their  brother  died.  No  death  was  more  closely  scrutinized, 
to  distinguish  it  from  trance;  and  to  determine  its  unmis- 
takable reality.  Could  he  have  deceived,  or  been  himself 
deceived   when  he  said:   "this  sickness  is  not  unto  death?" 

The  next  point  in  the  history  is  the  danger  of  venturing 
into  Judea  at  a  time  when  the  leaders  were  not  restrained 
by  the  presence  of  the  multitude,  among  whom  the  Naza.rene 
had  many  believing  friends.  When  Jesus  would  break  the 
news  of  the  death  of  Lazarus  to  the  twelve,  and  his  own  in- 
tention of  visiting  Bethany;  so  intimidated  were  they  as 
not  to  be  able  to  understand  any  allusion;  and  they  did 
not  comprehend  his  purpose  until  it  was  stated  in  the  broad- 
est manner.    They  could  not  think  of  Jerusalem  without  a 


270  SKETCHES   FROM    THE   LIFE   OF   JESUS. 

shudder;  aud  it  was  a  fixed  determination  with  them  not 
to  risk  a  visit.  "Goest  thou  thither  again?"  sounds  as  if 
the  idea  could  not  be  admitted  at  all. 

And  when  our  Lord  told  them,  that  walking  in  the  path 
of  duty  was  like  walking  in  the  light  of  day,  in  which  a 
man  would  not  be  liable  to  stumble;  and  that  refusing  the 
call  of  God  was  like  walking  in  the  night,  when  a  man  would 
continually  stumble;  and  that  he  felt  the  call  of  God:  the}" 
only  reluctantly  yielded  to  his  expressed  will.  Faith  was 
wanting  in  them,  as  well  as  in  the  sisters.  In  reading  the 
graphic  words,  we  can  almost  see  the  conclave  standing 
with  eyes  drooped  to  the  gTound,  and  heads  shaking  in  re- 
luctance, and  bodies  motionless :  until  Thomas  exclaims  at 
last,  seeing  that  the  master  would  go  :  "let  us  also  go  :'*  our 
Master  is  going  into  death;  and  "we  will  die  with  him." 
And  to  this  all  agreed.  The  doubter,  like  Thomas,  always 
looks  on  the  darkest  side,  as  expecting  the  very  worst,  and 
therefore  courting  failure.  Cold  and  doubting  Thomas,  how- 
ever, had  a  loA^e  for  Jesus,  which  led  him  in  time  to  die  for 
his  master  indeed. 

Jesus  was  certainly  in  no  haste  to  reach  Bethany,  and 
the  disciples  traveled  slowly  and  sadly;  "Jesus  went  before 
them,  and  as  they  followed,  they  wei-e  afraid."  The  party 
did  not  arrive  in  the  neighborhood  of  Bethany;  until  Laz- 
arus had  lain  four  days  in  the  tomb.  This  delay  was  in- 
tended to  test  still  more  severely  the  fluctuating  faith  of 
the  mourning  sisters.  Having  arrived,  he  stopped  without 
the  village,  resting  perhaps  under  the  shade  of  some  one  of 
the  numerous  fig  trel*  abounding  there,  and  by  some  casual 
passer  probably,  sent  to  the  house  notice  of  his  arrival; 
having  learned  from  him  the  date  of  the  death. 

Martha  was  of  course  the  first  to  receive  the  news;  and 
unmindful  of  her  sister  and  indeed  of  all  else,  she  rushed  to 
meet  him  at  the  place  where  he  had  stopped.  Jesus  inquired 
for  Mary;  he  "called  for"  her;  he  remembers  each  one. 
The  details  of  the  communication  to  her  by  her  sister  are  ex- 
ceedingly interesting,  and  life-like.  She  followed  of  course  as 
soon  as  she  learned  his  presence;  and  both  gave  utterance  to 
the  sentiment  which  they  had  so  often  repeated  to  each  other; 
till  their  minds  were  filled  with  it:    "Lord  if  thou  hadst 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  271 

been  here,  our  brother  had  not  died;"  a  sentiment  express- 
ing faith,  presumption  and  unbehef  together.  Martha  added 
strangely:  "but  even  now  I  know,  that  whatever  thou  shalt 
ask  of  God,  God  will  give  it  thee." 

The  characteristic  difference  between  the  sisters  appears 
in  this:  that  Martha  was  able  to  continue  a  conversation 
with  Jesus ;  while  Mary  lay  at  his  feet,  dissolved  in  crush- 
ing grief.  And  we  hear  in  Martha's  Words  a  faint  presenti- 
ment of  relief  in  some  way  yet  to  be  made  known.  The 
first  object  of  the  Mastei-  was  to  bring  out  and  strengthen 
true  faith;  so  he  says  to  Martha:  "Thy  brother  shall  rise 
again."  Marthp.,  not  seeming  to  have  any  definite  hope  of 
his  return  to  life,  replies:  "I  know  that  he  shall  rise  again 
in  the  resurrection  at  the  last  day." 

The  Old  Testament  is  sufficiently  explicit  on  all  points 
of  doctrine  and  duty;  all  the  doctrines  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment indeed  are  contained  in  the  one  book  of  Genesis.  And 
however  Sadducean  materialism  might  mystify  the  plain 
truth;  Christ  unanswerably  proved  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead  from  the  book  of  Exodus.  To  enlighten  her  and  all 
future  believers,  and  to  strengthen  her  faith,  the  Lord 
gave  utterance  to  these  memorable  words:  "I  am  the  res- 
urrection and  the  life;  he  that  believeth  on  me,  though  he 
were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live.  And  whosoever  liveth  and  be- 
lieveth on  me,  shall  never  die."  As  much  as  to  say,  there 
are  no  laws  of  nature ;  there  are  no  forces  that  can  operate 
apart  from  my  will.  All  the  processes  which  take  place, 
and  shall  at  any  time  take  place,  occur  from  no  tendencies 
or  forces  of  their  own,  separate  from  my  own  will.  That 
is  the  sole  energy  in  the  universe.  "I  am  the  resurrection 
and  the  life;"  all  centers  in  me     "Believest  thou  this?" 

My  delay  has  shown  how  weak  your  faith'  is;  can  you 
now  grasp  the  mighty  idea  of  my  supreme  dominion? 
Christ  did  not  control  agencies  or  laws ;  there  are  no  agen- 
cies or  laws  separate  from  his  omnipotent  will.  She  was 
ready  to  confess  that  she  believed  him  to  be  the  Christ, 
the  predicted  Savior;  but  she  had  never  comprehended  the 
boundless  extent  of  his  supremacy.  Miracles  were  to  him 
as  easy  as  ordinary  operations.  The  greatest  were  easy 
as  the  least:    and  difficult   or  impossible  had  no  meaning 


272  SKETCHES   FKOM   THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

with  him.  His  nature  was  without  bounds  or  hmits. 
All  that  we  can  say  respecting  her,  is  that  she  saw  that 
Jesus  claimed  to  be  infinitely  above  all  that  she  had  ever 
thought  or  conceived ;  and  she  was  willing  to  acknowledge 
him  all  that  he  professed  to  be;  but  the  hght  was  still 
strugghng  with  darkness  within  her. 

At  this  juncture  precisely  it  was  that  Mary  made  her 
appearance;  and  her  utter  disconsolateness  and  weeping, 
wuth  the  weeping  of  the  Jews  who  came  with  her,  greath' 
touched  the  sympathies  of  Jesus;  and  askina-  "Where  have 
ye  laid  him?"  he  seemed  to  make  an  ineffectual  effort  to 
restrain  himself :  and  with  a  great  sob  or  groan  he  finally 
burst  into  tears,  and  went  wdth  them  groaning  and  weep- 
ing to  the  grave.  The  sight  of  this  led  some  of  the  com- 
pan3^  to  sa}' :   "Behold  how-  he  loved  him,.'' 

They  were  in  error  here,  and  might  have  said,  behold 
how  he  loves  them.  He  was  not  grieving  over  the  loss  of 
Lazarus ;  he  was  weeping  with  the  mourners ;  the}'  were  the 
ones  who  excited  his  sympathies.  His  tears  w^ere  flowing  for 
them.  Unseen  by  us  but  ever  near  he  still  feels  our  sorrows 
as  his  owD,  and  suffers  when  we  are  crushed  b^^  affliction. 
Angels  of  glorj^  look  on  in  w^onder,  and  say;  when  they 
mark  his  reluctance  to  grieve  us,  his  tenderness  in  all  that 
he  sends  upon  us,  and  his  evident  sympathy  with  our  sor- 
rows, behold  how  he  loves  them!  Anything  that  touches 
his  people  touches  the  apple  of  his  eye.  To  believe  that  all 
things  work  for  our  good,  that  God  is  doing  all  that  he 
wisely  can  for  our  sanctification,  that  he  feels  our  agonies 
as  intensely  as  we  i  urselves  do,  and  sees  that  they  are 
the  lightest  that  the  case  admits  of,  and  that  in  the  end 
we  shall  thank  him  more  heartily  for  our  atfiictions,  than 
for  the  choicest  and  at  present  most  prized  mercies  of  our 
lives,  is  just  what  we  are  to  be  assured  of. 

A  real  faith  will  make  our  sufferings  a  "light  affliction'" 
not  to  be  compared  with  "the  eternal  weight  of  glory"; 
but  necessary  as  a  means  of  "working"  out  the  result. 
They  are  but  the  cutting  and  the  pr^lishing  of  the  gem ; 
the  fire  that  melts  the  gold,  that  it  may  assume  its  shape 
and  lustre. 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  273 

The  tomb  was  probably  a  natural  cave,  closed  b^'  a  large 
stone  serving-  for  a  cover  or  a  door.  Jesus  at  once  com- 
manded:  "roll  ye  awaj  the  stone."  Martha's  objection 
shows  two  things:  that  her  sharp  eyes  had  detected  evi- 
dences of  incipient  decomposition,  which  prevented  any 
doubt  of  the  death;  and  that  her  faith  was  only  intermit- 
tent, like  an  expiring  taper  flashing  up  its  light  for  an  in- 
stant, and  the  next  sinking  into  an  almost  darkness.  But 
when  the  Master  referred  to  his  promise  that  this  death 
should  be  "for  the  glory  of  God  that  the  son  of  man  might 
be  glorified  thereby,"  if  she  would  believe;  the  truth  began 
to  dawn  upon  her;  and  with  a  heart  throbbing  with  high 
hope  she  acquiesced.  At  the  last  she  believed,  and  the  heavy 
burden  of  stone  was  rolled  away  from  her  soul;  as  the  stone 
was  rolled  awa}''  from  the  tomb,  which  was  not  done  until 
she  joyfully  consented. 

In  no  haste,  but  with  the  most  solemn  deliberation,  Jesus 
standing  before  the  gaping  tomb  lifted  up  his  eyes;  but  it 
is  not  proper  to  say  that  he  prayed.  His  words  were  words 
of  thanksgiving,  his  lightest  wish  was  ever  heard.  These 
words  he  spoke  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  stood  by;  that 
they  might  believe  that  God  had  sent  him ;  and  that  the 
leather  and  Son  were  in  inseparable  concert,  and  indis- 
soluble connection.  The  miracles  of  Christ  were  wrought 
without  prayer:  in  entire  contradistinction  from  all  the 
prophets,  who  had  gone  before.  They  were  but  servants; 
€hrist  was  a  Son  in  his  own  house.  This  is  not  denying 
that  he  prayed  over  every  act  of  his  ministry,  and  event  of 
his  life.  His  life  was  an  unbroken  series  of  prayer,  and  this 
is  a>n  affecting  evidence  of  his  perfect  humanit}';  it  was  only 
as  a  man  that  he  could  pray.  The  history  shows  that  he 
prayed;  and  was  eased  and  relieved  by  it,  as  we  are. 

Then  amid  the  awful  silence  and  suppressed  breathing  of 
the  company,  the  voice,  which  will  at  the  last  day,  awake 
the  slumbering  dead,  called  aloud,  "Lazarus  come  forth," 
while  every  eye  was  strained  to  catch  any  movement,  that 
might  take  place  within  the  cave.  And  in  very  deed,  the 
sheeted  dead  stood  at  its  open  door,  unable  to  take  a 
single  step  on  account  of  the  bandages  which  swathed  each 
limb  separately,  and  also  wrapped  them  in  one  binding;  he 
-18 


274  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

had  yet  been  able  to  throw  down  his  feet  to  the  floor,  and 
to  arise  from  the  shelf  of  rock,  on  which  he  had  been  de- 
posited, and  thtis  to  stand  at  the  entrance.  No  one  stirred 
to  assist  him,  being  nearly  paralj^zed  with  astonishment^ 
nor  daring  to  interfere;  and  we  know  not  how  long  they 
stared,  while  every  tongue  was  palsied.  After  a  consider- 
able interval  Jesus  commanded:  "loose  him,  and  let  him 
go."  Indeed  until  the  word  was  given,  it  was  not  for  man 
to  raise  his  hand.  Undoubtedly  the  astonished  gaze  of  the 
bystanders  was  not  directed  to  Lazarus  chiefly;  in  their 
presence  was  one  stronger  than  death  and  the  grave ;  him- 
self the  "wonderful"  of  heaven  and  earth. 

Lazarus  had  lain  in  the  grave  four  days,  after  the  clos- 
est examination  made  to  determine  his  real  decease.  Had 
he  lain  there  four  years  or  forty  years ;  until  the  dust  had 
returned  to  the  earth '*as  it  was  ;  yet  at  the  word  of  Jesus, 
he  would  have  come  forth.  He  calls  "things  that  are  not, 
and  they  are."  "Marvel  not  at  this ;  for  the  hour  is  coming 
in  the  which  all  that  are  in  their  graves  shall  hear  his  voice, 
and  shall  come  forth:  they  that  have  done  good,  unto  the 
resurrection  of  life;  and  they  that  have  done  evil,  unto  the 
resurrection  of  damnation."  "He  has  the  keys  of  death 
and  of  hell"  i.  e.  of  the  grave  and  of  the  invisible  world. 
He  will  bring  the  body  up  from  the  grave,  and  the  soul 
from  the  world  of  spirits ;  and  reunited  they  shall  stand 
before  "the  great  white  throne;"  while  heaven  and  earth 
affrighted  "flee  away,  and  no  place  be  found  for  them." 

That  was  a  solemn  hour  when  the  grave  gave  back 
its  captive;  heaven  never  came  nearer  to  earth  than  then. 
The  interest  centered  in  the  hated  and  despised  Nazarene. 
In  that  little  company  some  looked  upon  him  with  uncon- 
cealed dislike;  "and  went  and  told  the  Pharisees  all  things 
that  he  had  done." 

Our  liOrd's  avoidance  of  publicity  is  very  marked  in  this 
connection ;  as  well  as  in  every  act  of  his  career.  He  did 
not  enter  the  village  of  Bethany  when  he  arrived,  nor  did 
he  pass  through  it  on  his  way  to  the  sepulchre:  and  it  is 
doubtful  if  any  of  the  residents  of  the  place,  beyond  the 
bereaved  sisters  were  present  at  the  tomb.  The  party  that 
heard    and   saw  consisted  of  the  twelve  disciples,  the   two 


HlSTOiaCAL  AND  DOCTRINATi.  275 

sisters,  and  the  visitors  from  the  adjoining  city,  who  had 
come  to  sympathize  with,  and  comfort  them  in  their  dis- 
tress. He  avoided  every  movement,  that  might  have  brought 
together  a  curious  crowd. 

The  reappearance  of  the  deceased  upon  the  streets  of 
Bethany  was  the  pubhc  proof  of  the  reality  of  the  miracle. 
This  was  according  to  his  constant  procedure;  instead  of 
rallying  spectators;  he  tolerated  the  presence  of  as  few  as 
possible.  The  passage  of  the  Red  Sea  witnessed  by  three 
milhons,  yet  comes  to  us  certified  but  by  two  eye  witnesses, 
Moses  and  Joshua:  the  account  needs  not  the  additional 
confirmation  of  multiplied  observers.  The  world  receives 
history  on  the  testimony  of  a  few.  Future  ages  will 
rest  their  belief  upon  the  word  of  two  or  three  true  and 
impartial  historians.  Certainty  can  not  be  increased  by 
the  multiplication  of  testimony.  The  conduct  of  the 
Nazarene  was  ordered  by  the  highest  wisdom :  evidently 
superhuman. 

Many  therefore  of  the  Jews,  which  came  to  comfort  the 
mourners,  and  saw  that  which  Jesus  did,  believed.  They 
not  only  saw  the  dead  come  forth  at  his  word  from  the 
chamber  of  the  grave;  but  they  saw  his  love  for  those  that 
trusted  in  him ;  the  tenderness  of  his  sympathy ;  they  saw 
how  evidently  the  Father  owned  him;  and  what  high  and 
lofty  fellowship  he  enjoyed  with  God  in  heaven;  and  they 
believed.  They  saw  in  him  divine  power  and  divine  love; 
these  draw  souls  now.  This  signal  opening  of  the  doors  of 
the  tomb,  and  rolling  away  the  stone  took  place  not  as  a 
private  benefit  to  the  weeping  sisters;  but  "for  the  glory 
of  god;  that  the  son  of  man  might  be  glorified  thereby;'" 
and  every  incident  of  the  marvelous  scene  reveals  his  glory, 
and  instaUs  him  as  sovereign  in  our  hearts;  as  well  as  of 
those  who  beheld. 

The  full  roll  of  his  mighty  works  is  not  complete  without 
the  addition  of  this  miracle.  This  world  is  an  immense 
grave-yard;  it  is  thickly  sown  with  withered  hopes;  fam- 
ilies exist  in  mere  fragments  everywhere ;  and  for  six  thou- 
sand years,  man  has  been  returning  to  the  dust  from  which 
he  was  taken.    This  mighty  Savior  himself  passed  through 


276  SKETCHES  FROM  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

the  iron  gate,  and  opened  it  for  our  conviction  and  sat- 
isfaction. Every  thing,  that  brings  tidings  to  us  of  the 
future  life  and  transient  dominion  of  the  grave,  goes  to  our 
hearts. 

No  attempt  Avas  ever  made  by  the  opposing  party  to 
deny  or  impugn  this  glorious  miracle,  as  had  occurred  when 
the  man  born  blind  received  his  sight.  On  the  contrary 
the  determination  to  put  Lazarus  also  to  death,  because 
that  by  reason  of  him  many  believed  on  Jesus,  was  an  open 
confession  that  the  Avhole  thing  took  place  actually  as  re- 
ported; and  was  too  glaring  and  well  founded  to  be  denied. 
This  indeed  was  the  climax  of  all  the  wondrous  works.  After 
the  message  of  Jesus  that  "this  sickness  is  not  unto 
death''  the  friends  did  not  admit  the  fact  of  death  until  it 
was  past  all  question.  Of  nothing  was  Martha  better  ap- 
prised, than  that  her  brother  had  seen  corruption.  Unbe- 
lievers in  ages  long  after  may  sneer  and  suggest  trick  or 
collusion:  the  enemies  knew  there  was  no  such  evasion. 
When  they  decreed  the  death  of  Lazarus  they  had  shown 
themselves  possessed  of  sharp  wits,  determined  to  fight 
truth  with  falsehood;  but  they  never  ventured  a  denial. 
They  freel3^  said:  "this  man  doeth  many  miracles;"  their 
testimony  has  an  especial  force.  The  men,  who  could  say 
that  the  disciples  came  and  stole  the  body  of  Jesus  while 
the  soldiers  slept,  could  have  framed  a  denial,  had  there 
been  room  for  it,  of  the  real  resurrection  of  Lazarus. 

The  whole  scene  must  have  presented  vividly  to  the  mind 
of  Jesus  his  own  bunal  now  impending  after  a  short  inter- 
val of  probably  less  than  a  month :  the  rocky  cavern,  the 
few  mourners,  the  great  stone  rolled  to  the  door,  the  en- 
swathed  body,  the  quickening  to  life,  and  the  coming  forth 
from  the  chamber  of  the  grave,  all  so  similar  to  what  was 
to  be  enacted  in  his  own  case  after  a  very  few  days,  must 
have  clothed  the  whole  scene  with  an  indiscribable  interest 
and  solemnity  to  him.  As  a  man  he  instinctively  recoiled; 
and  the  nearness  of  the  end  probably  contributed  to  the 
ineffable  sadness  and  tenderness  of  his  demeanor  through 
the  moui-nful,  joyful  occurrences. 


HISTORICAL  AND  DOCTRINAL.  277 

The  cottage  of  Bethany  was  for  one  night  at  least  the 
very  antechamber  of  heaven;  and  a  picture  of  the  joy  of 
reunion  Avith  those  that  are  gone  before,  and  are  awaiting 
us  upon  the  other  shore.  It  is  no  matter  of  wonder,  that 
those  famihar  went  away  beheving  in  Jesus:  and  that 
there  were  "manv"  such. 


278  THE  GREAT   SACRIFICE. 


CHAPTER   XXYII. 


TRIUMPHAL  ENTRY  INTO  JERUSALEM, 


The  onlj  occasion,  on  wliieli  our  Lord  made  any  approach 
towards  what  might  appear  the  assumption  of  the  kingly 
estate,  was  at  his  last  entry  into  the  holy  citj.  The  tri- 
umphal procession  seems  to  have  been  wholly  unexpected 
by  his  disciples.  Had  he  been  a  mere  party  leader,  such  a 
demonstration  would  have  been  matter  of  keen  and  cau- 
tious discussion;  and  shrewd  wordly  policy  would  have 
dictated  preparation  to  take  advantage  of  the  popular 
feeling;  so  as  to  reap  all  the  gain  that  might  result  from 
an  opportune  show  of  strength.  This  was  the  most  im- 
portant worldly  step  of  his  whole  career;  and  yet  his  fol- 
lowers were  wholly  unadvised  of  what  was  coming;  and 
had  no  plan,  according  to  which  they  could  follow  up  suc- 
cess, and  retain  what  they  might  be  able  to  secure.  But 
this  was  no  partisan  movement.  After  the  council  of  the 
Jews  had  solemnly  determined  to  put  him  to  death,  our 
Lord  was  resolved  that  they  should  reject  him  as  King  of 
Israel,  and  execute  him  in  that  character. 

The  prophets  had  abundantly  foretold  him  as  King ;  five 
centuries  before,  Zecharias  seemed  to  behold  this  present 
pageant,  to  hear  tJe  shouting,  to  note  the  two  animals, 
and  plainly  to  describe  the  meek  and  lowly  King.  When 
prophecies  are  fulfilled,  the  actors  unconsciously  perform 
their  parts  with  all  the  freedom  possible;  not  learning  un- 
til afterwards  that  their  role  had  been  long  previously 
arranged  for  them:  God's  foreknowledge  establishes  the  lib- 
erty of  creatures,  and  secures  their  free  and  unbiassed  ac- 
tion. God  is  able  to  manage  his  universe  without  infringing 
the  powers  of  subsidiary  agents. 

We  note  on  this  occasion: 

1.  The  crowd,  which  at  a  passover  was  simply  immense; 
reaching  to  the  neighborhood  of  three  millions  at  least.    It 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  279 

was  at  this  time  as  larg,e  as  ordinary,  if  not  larger:  the 
expected  presence  of  Jesus  was  ever  an  attraction:  and  it 
was  felt  that  the  period  of  decision  respecting  his  claims 
had  arrived.  A  deeper  interest  never  centered  about  the 
holy  city,  which  overflowed  with  visitors ;  until  the  sides  of 
the  surrounding  mountains,  as  far  as  the  temple  could  be 
seen,  were  occupied;  and  the  adjacent  villages  beyond  the 
summits  even,  were  crowded. 

As  Jesus  approached,  he  was  attended  by  a  vast  con- 
course from  Jericho,  conspicuous  among  whom  were  the 
blind  men,  whom  he  had  restored  to  sight,  and  who  were 
loud  and  constant  in  their  expressions  of  gratitude.  An- 
other attendant,  whose  presence  excited  still  greater  inter- 
est, was  Lazarus,  returned  from  a  four  days'  sojourn  in 
the  land  of  s])irits.  Perhaps  there  were  others  beside,  who 
had  been  examples  of  his  healing  power  in  days  by-gone: 
the  man  born  blind,  ever  a  bold  confessor,  and  others  from 
Oalilee,  or  Perea,  who  were  living  monuments  of  his  divine 
ability. 

Such  a  retinue  never  attended  king  or  conqueror  before 
of  grateful  and  adoring  followers.  We  are  not  surprised  to 
read  of  the  irrepressible  curiosity  "to  see  Lazarus,  whom  he 
had  raised  from  the  dead.''  A  victor  may  come  leading 
-captives  in  chains ;  Jesus  w-as  accompanied  by  many  at- 
tached by  bonds  stronger  than  of  iron.  A  great  stream  of 
people,  without  concert,  but  drawn  by  the  absorbing  in- 
terest of  the  late  events,  was  flowing  out  of  the  city  and 
its  environs,  as  soon  as  the  news  of  his  arrival  reached 
Jerusalem.  "The  whole  city  was  moved;"  and  never  had 
David  or  a  king  of  his  line  such  an  ovation  in  store  for 
him,  as  awaited  the  humble  prophet  of  Nazareth,  as  soon 
as  he  should  make  his  appearance. 

Strange  developements  might  soon  ensue;  and  a  mighty 
stress  oppressed  every  member  of  the  Jewish  nation;  as 
though  he  was  aware  that  the  crisis  of  his  own  destiny 
a,nd  of  the  national  life  were  at  hand.  The  doom  of  cen- 
turies was  poising  then  in  the  balance;  and  the  fate  of  the 
Jewish  people  was  on  the  eve  of  decision.  The  very  air 
was  heav3^  with  doom;  and  the  hour  was  nigh,  on  which 
pivoted  the  mighty  frame-work  of  the  government  of  God 


280  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

over  worlds  other  than  ours.  The  clock  of  destiny  was 
pointing-  to  the  hour,  for  which  the  ages  had  waited ;  and 
on  which  depended  interests  wide  as  the  universe  and  vast 
as  eternity. 

The  feeling  toward  the  great  teacher  had  reached  a  cli- 
max ;  rising  to  a  flood-tide,  it  dispossessed  every  other 
subject,  and  engrossed  all  minds :  and  Jerusalem  was  to  be- 
come the  valley  of  decision.  Greater  interests  gathered 
about  this  spot  and  this  present  time,  than  ever  concen- 
trated elsewhere:  and  every  heart  was  oppressed  with  a 
sense  of  it.  Unseen  spirits  also  hovered  thick;  and  heaven 
was  for  a  time  forsaken,  for  the  scenes  of  intenser  interest 
then  enacting  on  this  small  globe. 

2.  The  animal,  selected  to  carry  him.  was  an  unbridled 
colt,  the  foal  of  an  ass,  with  its  mother  following.  The 
animal  usual  on  such  occasions,  is  the  fiery,  chafing  steed. 
King  or  warrior  best  exhibits  himself  upon  the  horse,  made 
as  it  were  for  the  very  purpose  of  martial  displaj^  "Hasj^ 
thou  given  the  horse  strength?  hast  thou  clothed  his  neck 
with  thunder?  Canst  thou  make  him  afraid  as  a  grass- 
hopper? the  glory  of  his  nostrils  is  terrible.  He  paweth  in 
the  valley,  and  rejoiceth  in  his  strength;  he  goeth  on  to 
meet  the  armed  men.  He  mocketh  at  fear,  and  is  not 
affrighted;  neither  turneth  he  back  from  the  sword.  The 
quiver  rattleth  against  him,  the  glittering  spear  and  the 
shield.  He  swalloweth  the  ground  with  fierceness  and 
rage;  neither  believeth  he  that  it  is  the  sound  of  the  trum- 
pet. He  saith  among  _the  trumpets,  ha,  ha;  and  he 
smelleth  the  battle  rfar  off,  the  thunder  of  the  captains, 
and  the  shouting."  In  the  scriptures,  the  horse  is  the 
symbol  of  war.  The  meek  and  lowly  king  came  sitting 
upon  a  colt,  the  foal  of  an  ass.  On  it  never  man  sat  and 
never  again  did  a.  rider  use  it.  As  the  tomb  in  which  he 
lay  was  never  used  by  another;  the  alabaster  box  of  oint- 
ment never  shared  by  another;  so  this  animal  was  given 
up  by  its  owner  to  the  Lord,  who  had  need  of  him.  The 
unbroken  animal  suffered  the  garments  of  the  disciples  to  be 
cast  upon  him,  and  his  rider  to  mount;  and  then  took  his 
way  in  the  lead,  leaving  his  dam  behind;  and  stepped  for- 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  281 

ward  without  hesitation  upon  the  garments  laid  in  the 
way,  and  the  branches  of  palm  trees  strewed  in  the  road. 
Those  who  know  how  difficult  it  is  to  make  an  unbroken 
animal  set  his  foot  upon  anything-  that  hides  the  solid 
ground,  can  appreciate  the  docility  of  this  unbridled  and  raw 
beginner.  With  no  other  burden  would  he  have  made  his 
progress  amidst  the  shouts  and  gesticulations  of  a  closely 
surrounding  multitude.  This  scene  seems  almost  a  burlesque 
of  human  greatness.  Here  was  a  king,  entering  his  cap- 
ital in  triumph;  the  ground  was  not  good  enough  for  the 
colt  that  bore  him  to  step  upon;  palms  of  victory  and 
clothing  from  the  bodies  of  his  followers  carpeted  it;  but 
the  rider  was  the  prince  of  peace;  not  carried  over  ground 
soaked  in  human  gore,  or  wetted  with  the  tears  of  widows 
and  orphans,  and  trampling  the  vanquished  with  the  hoofs 
of  war;  but  the  meek  and  lowly  king  of  hearts.  As  he 
passed  down  the  long  slope  of  Olivet,  he  was  in  full  view 
from  the  temple,  the  higher  portions  of  the  city,  and  sides 
of  the  mountain  thickly  dotted  with  the  tents  of  passover 
worshippers;  surrounded  by  an  innumerable  throng,  and 
hailed  with  a  triumph  such  as  Jerusalem  had~ never  seen 
given  in  her  palmiest  days. 

The  irrepressible  shout  arose  on  every  side:  "Hosanna 
to  the  son  of  David,"  equivalent  to  the  English,  God  save 
the  king.  The  disciples,  in  full  expectation  of  an  immedi- 
ate worldly  kingdom,  first  raised  the  cry,  which  the  whole 
crowd  with  united  voice  took  up:  until  mount  and  valley 
reverberated  hosanna.  And  even  the  children  in  the  city 
caught  the  enthusiasm,  and  soon  after  filled  the  temple 
with  the  shout. 

Jesus  accepted  the  title,  approved  its  application,  pre- 
sented himself  as  "the  son  of  David"  in  legitimate  succes- 
sion, justified  the  designation  to  the  demurring  Pharisees, 
and  received  the  homage  of  the  people  as  their  Messiah. 
Never  had  returning  warrior  or  victorious  king  such  wel- 
come on  this  via  triuniphalis;  and  he  plainly  acknowledged 
himself  to  be  all  that  the  enthusiastic  multitude  proclaimed 
him  as  being.  Never  asserting  his  rights  nor  insisting  ("he 
shall  not  strive  nor  cry")  he  admitted  and  proclaimed  his 


282  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

real  descent  and  his  unquestionable  prerogative  as  king, 
ordained  before  prophets  Avere  inspired,  or  earthly  thrones 
erected. 

During  this  progress,  at  the  point  in  the  road  where  the 
full  view  of  the  city  bursts  upon  the  eye,  the  sight  of  it 
awakened  the  deepest  emotions  of  his  soul.  Though  sur- 
rounded by  rejoicing  myriads,  with  the  air  full  of  congratu- 
lation and  acclaim,  he  first  burst  into  tears,  and  then  fell 
into  uncontrollable  weeping.  He  saw  the  insincerity  of  all 
this  demonstration,  and  how  fiercely  these  same  would  soon 
call  for  his  blood;  he  beheld  the  temple,  now  glittering  in 
the  sunlight,  "left  unto  them  desolate,"  abandoned  of  all  its 
holy  influences;  the  people  having  repulsed  their  own  Mes- 
siah, given  up  to  judgment  in  this  world,  and  doom  in  the 
future,  and  he  wept  profusely.  His  words  were  heavy  with 
tears  and  loaded  with  groans  of  anguish,  and  were  suffi- 
cient to  annihilate  the  last  vestige  of  hope  for  a  temporal 
kingdom. 

Results  were  present  to  his  view,  and  his  eye  beheld  the 
dark  future  "naked  and  opened."  The  things  which  be- 
longed to  their  peace  were  his  own  personality,  and  his 
office  work  as  Savior;  which  things,  so  far  from  appreciat- 
ing, Jerusalem  was  about  to  repudiate  with  a  rancor  and 
fury  which  are  the  wonder  of  time.  Just  at  this  moment, 
amid  a  seeming  reception  of  him  (but  how  empty  and 
false!),  she  was  hastening  to  a  rejection  that  would  continue 
for  twenty  centuries,  and  involve  unborn  millions.  The 
passions  of  depraved  humanity  had  been  coming  to  a  boil- 
ing heat  for  three  y  jars  and  more,  and  were  soon  to  outdo 
the  wildest  suggestions  of  diabolical  temptation,  and  enact 
the  very  climax  of  sin,  beyond  which  evil  cannot  go. 

The  Jewish  people  of  that  generation  were  privileged 
above  the  men  of  all  time;  but  with  the  high  favor  ac- 
corded to  them,  there  attended  a  measureless  responsibility. 
To  whom  God  gives  much,  of  them  he  will  require  the 
more.  Prophets  and  kings  had  desired  to  see  the  things 
which  they  saw,  and  to  hear  the  things  Avhich  they  heard; 
but  had  died  without  the  sight  and  the  hearing.  Forty 
centuries  of  mortals  had  been  swallowed  in  the  tomb  of 
time,  looking  for  and  hasting  unto  the  fulfillment  of  God's 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM,  283 

great  promise.  The  whole  creation  had  groaned  together 
in  unalleviated  anguish,  sick  at  heart  and  faint  with  long- 
ing. Unto  these  was  reserved  the  unparalleled  blessedness 
of  beholding  and  hearing  the  things  "into  which  angels 
desire  to  look." 

A  curse  that  cannot  be  exhausted  in  this  world  impends 
over  those  who  fail  "to  know"  the  time  and  receive  the 
lesson.  The  heights  of  the  most  exalted  privilege  overhang 
the  precipice  of  the  deepest  doom ;  it  takes  but  a  step  from 
the  summit  of  light  to  dash  upon  the  rocks  below,  hard 
by  which  rolls  the  black  lake  of  perdition.  The  men  of 
that  day  seem  to  have  thought  that  the  Messiah  would  be 
revealed  in  such  a  way  as  to  make  mistake  of  him  impos- 
sible; that  their  leaders  were  infallible;  that  the  "coining- 
one"  would  assert  and  estabhsh  his  own  claims  as  men 
do;  would  assume  the  supremacy  by  force,  and,  what  was 
most  important,  bring  national  independence  with  him,  and 
a  greater  worldly  glory  and  empire  than  had  been  enjoyed 
in  the  reign  of  David  or  Solomon.  The  times  demanded 
such  a  Messiah;  and  they  considered  the  desires  and  needs 
of  the  people  more  than  they  did  the  oracles  of  the  scrip- 
ture. Their  worldliness  disdained  a  Savior  from  sin,  and 
seized  eagerly  the  inspired  announcements  of  the  glory  and 
greatness  of  the  future. 

The  refusal  of  Jesus  to  be  made  king  seems  to  have  been 
the  pivot,  on  which  his  rejection  turned.  He  remained  at 
the  very  foot  of  the  ladder  of  worldly  rank  during  his 
whole  career;  discouraged  ever  all  aspirations  of  the  kind 
in  his  followers;  and  did  not  seem  capable  of  an  ambi- 
tious or  even  patriotic  emotion.  His  teachings  were  con- 
fined wholly  to  the  sphere  of  religion  and  morals;  and 
nothing  else  was  seemingly  worthy  of  a  thought. 

God  does  not  furnish  evidence  that  shall  be  compulsory, 
and  that  shall  render  dissent  impossible.  The  light  that 
shines  in  a  dark  place,  shall  increase,  if  we  follow  it,  to 
the  perfect  day ;  but  men  are  left  to  the  unforced  decisions 
of  their  own  liberty.  If  they  stumble  at  the  rock  of 
offence,  they  shall  fall  and  be  broken:  but  on  whomsoever 
it  shall  fall,    it  shall  grind  him  to  powder.     A   responsi- 


284  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

bility,  heavier  than  globes,  was  on  the  men  of  that  gener- 
ation ;  it  was  inseparable  from  the  light  and  the  advanta- 
ges which  they  enjoyed. 

In  the  interlocutory  contest  that  ensued  for  the  next 
three  days,  there  was  from  first  to  last  but  one  question: 
that  iwas  the  Messiahship  of  Jesus.  From  the  first  en- 
counter when  the  leaders  came  asking:  "by  what  authority 
doest  thou  these  things?"  all  dispute  resolved  itself  into 
this ;  art  thou  he  that  should  come?  and  is  the  Messiah  to 
be  a  divine  personage?  This  was  the  question  of  the  hour. 
Xo  other  question  came  before  the  nation  then  assembled 
in  debate  of  this  one  point.  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  for- 
got their  mutual  enmity,  and  united,  as  did  Pilate  and 
Hered  after;  and  the  parties  stood ;  on  the  one  side  Jesus, 
and  on  the  other  the  world.  For  more  than  three  years 
the  light  had  been  shining  in  their  midst;  and  the  all  en- 
grossing subject  now  took  possession  of  ever^'^  mind.  No 
one  among  the  millions  was  indifferent  or  unconcerned. 
The  matter  pressed  for  instant  decision:  the  temple  was 
the  tribunal:   and  this  passover  was  the  time. 

Such  was  the  intercommunication  of  the  Jewish  people, 
by  reason  of  all  the  males  assembling  thrice  every  year  at 
Jerusalem ;  that  all  that  occurred  anywhere  in  the  holy 
land,  was  soon  known  to  every  inhabitant;  and  all  sides 
of  every  subject  of  interest  were  familiar  to  every  mind. 
The  whole  life,  acts,  and  teachings  of  the  Nazarene  Avere 
vividly  before  every  individual,  and  were  public  property. 
Our  own  newspapers  and  telegraphs  post  us  more  quickly ; 
but  no  better  nor  more  thoroughly  on  all  matters  of  in- 
terest. 

And  there  never  was  a  crisis;  not  that  of  the  Protes- 
tant succession  in  England  nor  our  own  18G4,  that 
stirred  so  deeply  and  excited  so  intensely.  Every  man  felt 
called  upon  to  act;-  as  though  the  fate  of  the  nation  de- 
pended on  himself  alone. 

During  these  three  memorable  days,  the  ministry  of  the 
Baptist  and  his  testimony  came  into  review.  His  very 
name  awakened  the  keenest  sympathy  in  every  heart.  The 
shortness  of  his  ministry  and  its  miserable  ending  had  en- 
shrined him  in  the  memories  of  the  people.     They  would 


CALVARY   AND  ITS  A'lCTIM.  285 

have  stoned  to  death  the  kickless  man,  who  should  dare 
to  cast  a  doubt  upon  liis  divine  mission.  He,  as  it  were, 
passed  before  their  view  ag'ain,  and  solemnly  pointed  to 
the  Nazarene,  and  reiterated  his  testimony  that  Jesus  was 
"before"  him  and  all  mankind,  the  son  of  God,  the  sin- 
bearer  of  the  world,  the  being-  for  whom  himself  was  not 
worthy  to  loose  the  shoe,  or  perform  the  most  menial 
service. 

The  enemies  of  the  Savior  were  forced  to  admit  that 
John  was  a  prophet  sent  of  God ;  and  that  his  mission 
was  to  designate  Jesus,  a  witness  to  his  messiahship.  The 
unwilling  admission  was  wrung  from  them  in  the  presence 
and  hearing  of  the  nation,  an  admission  to  which  all  as- 
sented without  a  contradictory  voice. 

And  then  the  testimony  of  the  miracles  had  become 
louder  and  more  convincing.  The  restoration  of  the  man 
born  blind  extorted  acknowledgement  from  the  most  bit- 
ter opposers.  This  bold  confessor  and  first  one  "cast  out" 
for  the  sake  of  Jesus,  was  doubtless  present,  and  fearless 
by  adding  his  testimony  to  that  of  the  two  from  Jericho. 
Lazarus  was  also  before  them,  whose  resurrection  none 
pretended  to  question.  The  miracles  had  become  more 
brilliant  and  mighty  to  the  last:  they  were  beyond  dis- 
pute; as  the  living  subjects  of  them  were  present.  These 
works  demonstrated  the  approval  and  sanction  of  the 
Father,  and  were  the  indubitable  testimony  of  God  him- 
self. 

And  further,  the  very  voice  of  God  from  heaven  spoke  again 
while  Jesus  w'as  teaching  in  the  courts  of  the  temple. 
Some  said  that  it  thundered;  others  said:  "an  angel  spake 
to  HIM."  It  was  but  repeating  what  had  occurred  on  the 
banks  of  Jordan  three  years  before,  and  bringing  into 
vivid  remembrance  the  announcement:  "This  is  my  be- 
loved son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased."  Here  was  an  ac- 
cumulation of  evidence  most  ungainsayable,  crowded  into 
these  three  days.  God  sent  down  a  full  beam  of  heavenly 
light,  fresh  from  the  infinite  glory  as  it  w^ere,  to  lead  them 
to  a  right  decision.  The  whole  case  was  before  them ;  the 
claims  of  Jesus,  sustained  by  the  testimony  of  the  Bap- 
tist, by  the  most  indisputable  miracles,  and  by  the  voice 


286  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

of  God  himself  speaking  from  the  skies.  If  all  these  will 
not  convince,  no  conceivable  proof  will.  According  to 
to  Christ's  own  conception,  so  evident  and  full3^  attested 
was  his  mission;  that  if  the  disciples  had  kept  silence,  the 
ver}^  stones  would  have  opened  their  dnmb  mouths,  and 
proclaimed  his  standing;  as  the  rocky  tomb  did  in  time  open 
its  cavernous  throat,  and  shout  its  hosanna. 

And  now^  he  was  master  of  the  temple,  dictator  of  the 
occasion:  the  conscience  of  the  people  was  with  him,  and  on 
his  side. 

God  has  endued  the  will  of  man  with  that  natural  liberty 
that  it  can  refuse  assent  to  the  clearest  truth;  resist  the 
holiest  motives;  and  do  despite  to  the  spirit  of  all  grace. 
AYe  can  come  into  contest  with  God  himself,  and  rush  upon 
the  bosses  of  his  buckler.  It  can  shut  the  eyes  against  sun. 
light  certainty;  it  can  harden  the  heart  against  the  most 
loving  influences.  The  fathers  of  Israel  rejected  Jehovah  at 
the  very  foot  of  Sinai,  unaffected  by  all  the  wonders  of  that 
theophany;  as  they  could  not  abide  the  character  of  the 
God  there  revealed. 

The  most  terrible  exhibitions  of  human  sin  have  appeared 
in  the  very  blaze  of  the  clearest  light,  stimulated  by  the 
light  itself.  The  innate  enmity  of  the  human  heart  against 
God  does  not  manifest  its  rancor,  until  God  is  met  face  to 
face,  a  sin-hating  ruler.  When  this  view  is  gained,  nothing 
can  surpass  the  energy  of  the  opposition  that  rises,  reveal- 
ing "the  hidden  man  of  the  heart.*'  The  very  climax  of 
the  iniquity  of  the  race  was  reached,  when  Jesus  Christ 
was  rejected;  sin  cotild  do  no  more;  hell  coald  suggest  no 
worse.  The  distinction  which  will  designate  this  earth  in 
the  coming  ages  will  be:  the  world  that  crucified  the  Son 
of. God,  without  an  accusation,  without  a  witness,  without 
a  trial.  Under  his  incognito  they  had  identified  the  being 
who  is  the  impersonation  of  right  and  duty,  law  and  con- 
science. 

No  light,  no  revelation  could  have  prevented  his  cruci- 
fixion. This  rejection  was  no  sudden  act  of  the  nation; 
the  opposition  to  Jesus  had  been  growing  from  the  first 
beginning  of  his  ministi'y,  "which  opened  with  the  cleansing 
of  the  temple;  and  made  bitter  enemies  from  the  very  first. 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  287 

His  first  miracle  at  Jerusalem  which  is  particularly  re- 
lated, roused  an  implacable  hatred,  leading  them  to  at- 
tempt to  put  him  to  death  for  what  could  by  no  logic  be 
counted  a  capital  offence.  This  hatred  kept  pace  with  his 
increasing  notoriety ;  every  successive  mighty  work  seem- 
ingly arousing  a  more  vengeful  hostility. 

Nazareth  had  long  before  rejected  him;  Capernaum  be- 
came tired  of  him;  Chorazin  and  Bethsaida  turned  a  deaf 
ear  to  his  teachings;  Herod  advised  him  to  leave  his  ter- 
ritory; he  met  everywhere  with  rebuffs  through  his  Avhole 
course;  and  was  obliged  at  last  to  conceal  himself.  His  claims 
were  brought  before  every  individual  of  the  nation,  and 
were  passed  upon  by  each.  All  had  ha,d  abundant  time, 
as  well  as  abundant  light.  They  were  not  surprised  into 
a  step,  which  they  would  afterwards  regret  and  recall.  It 
Avas  not  the  act  of  a  portion  of  the  people;  but  of  the 
nation. 

We  sometimes  attribute  the  entire  blame  to  the  priests 
and  elders  and  scribes;  and  indeed  these  were  forward  in 
promoting  the  result.  But  every  man  in  his  place  was  ac- 
tive on  the  one  side  or  the  other;  there  was  no  indifference, 
and  but  one  side;  the  other  side  was  silent. 

It  is  in  great  crises  involving  general  interests  and  affect- 
ing eveiy  family,  that  every  man  utters  iiis  voice  and  casts 
his  influence  into  the  scale.  So  it  was  in  the  present  in- 
stance. This  rejection  was  the  solemn  act  of  the  nation, 
in  which  every  individual  participated,  being  for  or  against 
it;  they  were  never  more  united  in  any  act  of  their  whole 
history.  "Not  this  man;  but  Barabbas"  was  their  dehberate 
choice.  And  when  a  heathen  judge,  used  to  cruelty  and 
bloodshed,  asked  in  bewildered  amazement:  "Why?  what 
evil  hath  he  done?"  and  five  several  times  declared;  "I 
find  no  fault  in  him,"  even  washing  his  hands  of  all  par- 
ticipation; the  cry  rose  fiercer  and  more  terrible  against 
him  than  before.  The  nation  spoke;  and  for  twenty  cen- 
turies has  not  relented.  Never  was  tyrant  or  felon  so  re- 
jected; never  monster  so  cast  out. 

Hell  gnashed  its  demon  teeth;  and  we  hear,  as  it  were, 
the  clash  of  its  hungry  jaws;  for  we  must  remember  that 
this  was  a  contest  between  the  seed  of  the  woman  and  the 


288  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

old  serpent.  \Yhose  head  was  to  be  crushed.  The  Jewish 
people  lent  themselves  as  a  party  to  the  fight.  Wrong- 
prevailed  for  a  time,  and  evil  triumphed  for  a  season.  The 
creation  of  intelligent  beings,  angels  and  men,  turned  on 
the  condition  of  the  incarnation  of  the  second  person  of 
the  Trinity;  and  the  stability  of  the  government  of  God 
depended  on  the  issue  of  this  contest;  as  well  as  the 
salvation  of  men;  interests  vast  as  eternity,  important  as 
the  throne  of  God. 

Calvary  was  the  Thermopylae  of  the  universe,  where  the 
powers  of  evil  were  defeated  and  overthrown  not  for  this 
world  only.  The  spiritual  forces  engaged  were  the  might- 
iest in  existence;  the  results  the  farthest  reaching;  the  ques- 
tion at  issue  fundamental  to  the  government  of  God,  and 
his  spiritual  kingdom.  This  globe  small  as  it  is,  is  the 
place  of  decision  for  the  most  momentous  questions.  God 
is  educating  angels  by  what  takes  place  here;  and  raising 
up  teachers  from  among  men,  who  are  to  become  minister- 
ing spirits  to  races  j^et  to  be  created. 

The  enormous  evil  of  sin,  and  its  incredible  opposition 
to  God  are  to  be  learned  from  the  histor}^  of  men  here; 
while  its  terrible  results  will  be  unfolded  in  the  world  of 
despair,  to  remain  a  beacon  of  warning  and  example  through 
ceaseless  ages.  The  redeemed  from  this  world  are  being  pre- 
pared for  the  loftiest  work,  that  can  be  assigned  to 
creatures;  to  be  leaders  to  new  born  orders  of  spirits;  to 
stand  as  objects,  of  wondering  regard;  as  those  who  can 
declare  the  love  of  God  as  none  others  can;  and  strike  the 
notes  of  a  song  whK.h  none  others  can  learn;  but  whose 
melody  will  entrance  listening  worlds;  and  to  which  God 
will  bow  his  ear  in  rapture. 

We  are  to  remember,  that  while  this  rejection  was  the 
act  of  the  Jews;  it  is  also  in  a  sense  the  act  of  the  race; 
inasmuch  as  every  human  heart  responds  to  it  with  a  sim- 
ilar turning  away  and  renunciation  of  Jesus,  continued  and 
repeated  with  more  or  less  emotion  of  the  very  same  charac- 
ter, as  that  which  animated  his  enemies  in  that  distant 
day.  "As  face  answereth  to  face  in  the  water,"  so  the  ex- 
perience of  our  day  repeats  the  rejection  of  two  thousand 
years  ago.  We  are  guilty  alike;  and  "there  is  no  differ- 
ence" in  the  sioiit  of  God. 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  289 


CHAPTER  XXYIII. 


JUDAS  ISCARIOT. 


The  men  whom  our  Lord  selected  as  his  intimate  and 
constant  companions,  were  men  of  marked  individuahty, 
and  exceedingly  diverse  personal  characteristics.  All  varie- 
ties of  temperament  seem  to  have  been  represented,  from 
the  quick  and  impetuous,  to  the  slow,  cold  and  dogged. 
There  were  among  them  men  of  feeling,  and  men  of  judg- 
ment; men  of  the  true  philosophical  mind,  and  men  of 
action.  At  the  first  notice,  all  are  surprised  at  the  choice 
of  Judas,  and  still  more  so  at  his  reception  of  the  posi- 
tion. The  question,  "Will  ye  also  go  away?"  shows  that 
one  and  all  were  at  liberty  to  leave  at  their  pleasure. 

This  selection  was  the  highest  possible  honor;  as  it  con- 
ferred the  privilege  of  beholding  all  the  miracles,  and  hear- 
ing all  the  instructions,  public  and  private,  and  inspecting 
the  unveiled  personality  of  the  mysterious  being,  whose 
career  was  opening.  As  Jesus  himself  said:  "Blessed  are 
your  eyes,  for  they  see;  and  your  ears,  for  they  hear;  for 
verily  I  say  unto  you  that  many  prophets  and  kinjgs  have 
desired  to  see  the  things  which  3'e  see,  and  have  not  seen 
them ;  and  to  hear  the  things  which  ye  hear,  and  have  not 
heard  them.''  One  hour's  personal  presence  with  Christ  is 
worth  more  than  an  ordinary  life-time.  From  the  scant 
glimpses  of  the  man  Judas  w^hich  are  left  us,  it  is  possible 
to  gain  some  insight  into  his  inner  life,  and  interpret  the 
conduct  which  has  made  his  name  a  synonym  for  treachery. 

Those  of  the  twelve  who  had  previously  been  disciples  of 
the  Baptist,  had  been  indoctrinated  into  a  spiritual  religion 
wholly  unlike  the  prevalent  Jewish  formalism.  John  had 
inculcated  not  an  external  reformation ;  but  an  inward  re- 
pentance, which  as  the  word  signifies,  should  be  also  a  change 
of  heart.    For  this  very  reason  our  Lord  chose  his  apostles 

-19 


290  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

from  the  adherents  of  John,  whose  ministry  was  an  attempt 
at  the  restoration  of  primitive  Judaism,  requiring-  that 
spiritual  service  of  Jehovah  which  the  Old  Testament  makes 
so  prominently  recjuisite.  His  hearers  were  directed  to  a 
coming  deliverer  from  sin,  rather  than  to  a  national  lib- 
erator. His  one  aim  was  to  make  ready  a  people  pre- 
pared to  greet  and  receive  a  Savior  from  sin.  Jesus  was 
not  proclaimed  b}^  him  as  the  lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
destroying  the  nation's  enemies;  but  as  the  lamb,  whom 
God  should  provide  to  bear  the  sins  of  the  world.  It  was 
this  testimony  of  John  which  attracted  to  Jesus  Andrew 
and  Simon  and  James  and  John,  the  leading  ones  of  the 
conclave  of  apostles.  Many  others  of  the  followers  of  the 
Baptist  were  ready  to  hail  the  advent  of  such  a  deliverer; 
and  such  were  transferi'ed  to  the  ranks  of  the  Nazarene  as 
quickly  and  effectively  as  possible.  However  mixed  may 
have  been  their  motives,  and  unauthorized  their  expecta- 
tions, they  had  a  genuine  uppermost  desire  for  salvation 
from  the  power  of  evil. 

A  man  of  a  wholly  mercenary  spirit,  as  Judas  revealed 
himself  to  be,  would  not  be  quickly  attracted  to  such  a 
teacher;  however  much  his  soul  may  have  been  thrilled  by 
the  announcement  of  the  coming  kingdom.  Adventurers 
always  turn  up  when  things  are  rushing  to  a  crisis,  and  a 
new  order  is  universally  expected.  He  hailed  the  appear- 
ance of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  accredited  as  he  was,  as  the 
signal  of  the  speedy  enfranchisement  of  Israel,  and  regarded 
him  as  the  Lord's  anointed  to  accomplish  this  desired 
event.  The  scriptures  literally  interpreted  authorized  the 
expectation  of  a  king  to  sit  on  David's  throne.  Is.  ix:  7: 
"Of  the  increase  of  his  government  and  peace  there  shall 
be  no  end,  on  the  throne  of  David  and  his  kingdom ;  ta 
order  it  and  to  establish  it  with  justice  and  with  judgment 
from  henceforth  even  forever."  Jer.  33:  17.  "And  David 
shall  not  want  a  man  to  sit  upon  his  throne  forever." 
Jer.  also:  "And  David,  my  servant,  shall  be  king  over 
them."  The  angel  said  to  Mary:  "The  Lord  shall  give 
unto  him  the  throne  of  his  father  David."  And  the  revela- 
tion to  Zacharias  included  the  same  thing.  How  a  Jew 
would  read  these  scriptures  a  Gentile  can  hardly  imagine: 


CALVARY    AND   ITS   VICTIM.  291 

how  his  soul  would  bound  at  the  idea  of  the  throue  of 
David  restored,  and  filled  by  his  greater  son  and  successor. 
The  imagination  of  Judas  was  doubtless  inflamed  by  such 
prospects. 

In  the  pairing  of  the  twelve  into  couples  sent  out  to- 
gether, Judas  is  always  associated  with  Simon  the  Canaan- 
ite,  or  Zelotes,  which  words,  the  one  Hebrew,  the  other 
Greek,  describe  him  as  one  of  the  subsequent  party  of  fa- 
natical patriots.  This  pairing  was  evidently  spontaneous, 
and  decided  by  the  affinities  and  preferences  of  the  parties. 
The  two  undoubtedly  sympathized  in  their  views  of  the 
Master  they  followed,  and  the  expected  results  of  his  min- 
istry. Both  possessed  alike  the  unlimited  confidence  of  their 
fellows,  who  themselves  were  animated  by  the  same  hopes 
and  expectations  to  a  degree. 

Peter  himself  was  not  a  more  conspicuous  figure  among 
the  twelve  than  was  Judas,  who  became  the  business  man 
of  the  company ;  to  Avhom  was  'entrusted  the  purse  and 
the  management  of  the  necessary  purveying  and  provision. 
Such  a  character  is  a  desideratum  in  any  club  or  associa- 
tion. The  management  of  outlays  and  the  adjustment  of 
secular  matters,  and  the  custody  of  the  common  funds, 
fell  naturally  into  his  hands:  indeed  he  became  the  facto- 
tum. This  very  appointment  shows  the  character  of  the 
man.  He  had  the  business  talent,  and  occupied  himself 
with  the  unavoidable  secularities  of  so  considerable  a  com- 
pany. He  needed  business  to  engage  his  attention ;  as  he 
was  not  continually  listening  to  the  discourses,  which  others 
prized  so  highlj-. 

As  we  read  we  are  struck  with  the  fact,  that  nothing  is 
related  which  shows  that  he  was  interested  in  Jesus  as  a 
teacher  at  all.  He  is  never  heard  asking  an  explanation, 
or  seeking  fight  upon  any  matter  of  faith  or  practice.  His 
difficulties  are  never  propounded,  nor  is  his  voice  ever  heard 
seeking  instruction.  Indeed  from  the  way  in  which  his 
name  is  mentioned  in  John  xiv:  22:  "One  of  his  disciples, 
Judas  not  Iscariot,  saith,"  it  is  to  be  inferred  that  Iscariot 
never  opened  himself  by  any  question,  or  made  a  revela- 
tion of  himself  or  of  his  difficulties.  Peter  and  James  and 
John  were  the  intimate  companions  of  their  Master,  sur- 


292  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

roundino"  him  in  his  walks  and  in  his  repose:  the  inner 
planets  revolving  around  the  central  luminary  at  the  closest 
distance.  Judas,  instead  of  sitting  at  his  feet  like  Mary, 
to  hear  his  word,  was  ever  bustling  and  busy  with  the 
many  things  connected  with  the  cares  of  this  life.  He  was 
no  student  intent  on  catching  everj'  lesson  of  instruction : 
other  thoughts  occupied  him :  the  vision  of  a  kingdom  was 
ever  before  him.  He  did  not  appreciate  the  teaching  and 
the  wisdom  as  he  did  the  reserve  power,  which  he  knew 
his  Master  possessed. 

It  is  easy  to  imagine,  that  in  the  contests  about 
who  should  be  the  greatest,  he  was  one  of  the  most  active 
participants,  the  rival  of  Peter ;  a.nd  expected  to  glide  nat- 
urally into  the  administration  of  affairs  as  chief  secretary. 
That  this  representation  of  him  is  not  wholly  conjectural, 
can  easily  be  inferred  from  what  happened  at  the  feeding 
of  the  five  thousand  in  the  vicinity  of  Bethsaida.  The 
multitude  then  present  were  determined  to  take  Jesus  by 
force,  and  make  him  king:  nor  was  this  purpose  confined 
to  them:  the  movement  had  the  dimensions  of  a  national 
one;  and  was  maturing  in  countless  minds.  On  the  pres- 
ent occasion,  it  was  impossible  to  dismiss  and  disperse  the 
multitude;  until  our  Lord  had  previously  sent  away  his 
disciples.  This  fact  shows  that  they  were  leaders  in  the 
attempt.  We  are  told  that  "he  constrained  his  disciples 
to  get  into  the  ship,  and  to  go  to  the  other  side."  He  had 
to  compel  them  to  leave.  All  the  disciples  believed  in  the 
temporal  kingdom,  and  were  disposed  to  assist  in  carrying- 
out  any  such  scheme;  so  that  it  was  absolutely  necessary' 
to  be  rid  of  them  first,  before  he  could  succeed  in  breaking 
up  the  crowd,  who,  as  the  last  of  them  departed,  noticed 
that  Jesus  w  as  left  alone ;  no  boat  remaining,  by  which  he 
could  reach  the  other  side. 

This  attempt  shows  how  needful  to  the  mission  of  Jesus 
it  was,  that  he  should  not  perform  an^^  miracle,  which 
would  suggest  his  ability  to  deliver  the  people  from  the 
tyranny  of  Rome.  The  tinder  is  not  more  sensitive  to  the 
flying  spark;  than  was  the  restless  Jewish  mind  to  any- 
thing calculated  to  encourage  the  hope  of  national  eman- 
cipation. 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  293 

There  were  those  present  on  this  occasion,  who  were  tak- 
ing the  gauge  of  Jesus  as  "the  leader  and  commander  of 
the  people,"  and  estimating  his  worth  as  a  captain.  Judas 
was  evidently  among  the  foremost  in  proposing  and  car- 
rying out  the  exaltation  of  his  Master;  and  the  loudest 
in  objecting  to  being  sent  away  to  the  other  side.  The  in- 
tention was  by  no  means  abandoned  however;  for  on  the 
next  day  the  principal  men  of  the  previous  day,  came  to 
Capernaum  seeking  for  Jesus;  and  accosted  him  with  the 
question:  "Rabli,  when  earnest  thou  hither?"  Sooner  or 
later  they  must  have  heard  of  his  night  walk  over  the 
boisterous  deep:  there  is  but  one  who  "treadeth  upon  the 
waves  of  the  sea." 

They  were  still  persisting  in  their  design  to  make  him 
king;  but  he  knew  how  to  "rule  the  raging  of  the  sea  and 
the  tumult  of  the  people."  The  vi.  ch.  of  John,  which  is  a 
specimen  of  his  teaching  for  a  time,  was  inexpressibly 
offensive  to  them,  and  led  to  loud  murmurs,  Judas  being 
the  chief  complainant.  The  doctrine  of  the  divine  sov- 
ereignty should  humble  men  in  the  most  urgent  prayer  for 
his  favor;  rather  than  incite  to  bitter  complaints  against 
him,  "who  rendereth  not  account  of  any  of  his  matters." 
Such  murmurers  were  embittered  by  the  failure  to  compel 
the  Master  to  accept  the  royalty.  The  loud  dissatisfaction 
of  Judas  reached  to  such  lengths,  that  the  most  fearful 
rebuke  that  ever  fell  from  the  lips  of  incarnate  love,  a 
blow  from  the  sharp  two-edged  sword  proceeding  out  of 
his  mouth,  smote  him:  "have  not  I  chosen  you  twelve, 
and  one  of  you  is  a  devil?" 

This  refusal  of  the  crown  was  the  pivotal  point,  on 
which  turned  the  rejection  of  the  Nazarene  by  the  Jewish 
nation.  It  was  an  open  proclamation  that  it  was  not  in 
his  intention  to  deliver  Israel  from  the  yoke  of  oppression; 
that  this  was  no  part  of  the  work,  which  he  was  sent  into 
the  world  to  accomplish.  His  action  in  this  matter  cast 
the  greatest  damper  upon  his  followers,  and  caused  the 
large  majority  of  the  people  to  abandon  him  at  once  and 
forever.  It  had  been  burned  into  their  souls  by  a  keen 
sense  of  long  continued  suffering  and  the  examples  of  de- 
liverance in  their  past  history;  that  the  Messiah,  when  he 


294  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

appeared,  should  espouse  the  cause  of  the  oppressed  nation, 
and  most  signally  accomplish  its  liberation  from  heathen 
masters;  and  for  a  possible  Messiah  to  hesitate,  and  decline 
this  work  stamped  him  as  an  impostor  and  a  fraud.  One 
thing-  the}'  overlooked  in  the  history  of  the  past  deliver- 
ances, their  fathers  had  always  been  brought  to  a  broken- 
hearted repentance  for  their  sins  before  God  vouchsafed  the 
longed-for  deliverance.  The  arm  of  the  foe  bore  more  and 
more  heavily;  until  this  result  was  secured.  Salvation 
never  preceded  but  always  followed  a  national  repentance. 
At  this  period  the  nation  would  listen  to  nothing,  but  im- 
mediate and  thorough  liberation.  Henceforth  the  multi- 
tudes "walked  no  more  with  him.."  At  his  appearance  on 
the  stage  they  had  rushed  in  countless  throngs  to  behold 
and  hear;  but  they  "turned  awaj'  as  it  were  their  faces 
from  him."  Better  had  it  been  for  Judas  had  he  followed 
the  universal  example.  All  may  have  admitted  the  reality 
the  miracles,  and  heard  apathetically  of  the  mighty  works; 
but  what  they  heard  only  increased  their  irritation,  and 
embittered  their  hostility;  as  proving  him  to  be  possessed 
of  the  necessary  power  to  deliver  his  people,  but  lacking 
the  patriotism. 

Simultaneously  with  this  alienation  of  the  people,  the 
teachings  of  the  master  took  on  a  different  tone.  His  words 
had  previously  been  simple  as  infancy,  and  pellucid  as  the 
light;  now  he  began  to  veil  himself  in  parables.  Matthew, 
possessed  of  an  eminently  Jewish  cast  of  mind,  dehghting  in 
dark  sayings  which  require  an  interpreter,  has  made  the 
fullest  report  of  them.  The  casual  hearer  was  only  con- 
firmed in  his  rejection  of  the  inoffensive  teacher,  as  being  a 
mere  mystic.  Judas  remained  henceforth  a  conscious  hypocrite 
and  false  friend.  His  alliance  was  nearlj^  severed;  and  we 
can  conjecture  his  aim  in  remaining.  One  thing  is  evident: 
he  was  firmly  convinced,  that  the  Xazarene  was  as  holy  and 
unselfish  in  deeds,  as  he  was  unlimited  in  power.  Having  the 
best  opportunities  of  knowing  him,  he  understood  that  he 
was  no  sclieiner,  or  im])ostor,  or  self-seeker;  but  intent  only 
on  honoring  God. 

Judas  remained;  but  he  remained  onl}^  in  a  state  of 
chronic  dissatisfaction. 


CALVARY   AND   ITS   VICTIM.  295 

John  the  Baptist  was  stao-gerecl  at  this  very  thing,  that 
no  advance  was  made  toward  national  enfranchisement; 
and  pondered  in  his  heart;  if  Jesus  was  not  a  failure;  and 
another  real  deliverer  to  be  expected  in  the  future.  The 
mother  and  brethren  of  Jesus  were  losing  faith  in  him;  his 
operations  were  so  secret,  hardly  raising  a  ripple  of  general 
excitement,  until  near  the  end.  Judas,  confident  of  the 
Master's  ability,  remained  in  order  to  force  matters  and 
precipitate  them,  if  opportunit}^  ever  again  offered.  Hence- 
forth he  had  a  purpose. 

No  interview,  that  our  Lord  had  while  on  earth,  had  a 
greater  influence  upon  the  sentiments  and  conduct  of  his 
disciples,  than  his  conversation  with  the  rich  young  ruler, 
whom  he  directed  to  sell  all  that  he  had,  and  give  to  the 
poor,  and  to  come  and  follow  him.  This  direction  awa- 
kened unbounded  astonishment  in  the  minds  of  the  twelve, 
with  no  little  mixture  of  dismay.  The}'  were  looking  for- 
ward to  the  unlimited  enjoyment  of  worldly  good,  and  the 
possession  of  great  riches  in  the  coming  kingdom;  and  such 
a  requirement,  as  the  selling  of  all  earthly  goods,  and  em- 
bracing a  life  of  poverty,  smote  them  with  a  perfectly  be- 
wildering amazement;  and  led  Peter  to  ask  with  a  choking 
voice:  "Lo,  we  have  left  all  and  followed  thee:  what  shall 
we  have  therefore?"  as  though  nothing  desirable  remained, 
if  the  possession  of  riches  were  interdicted.  When  our  Lord 
saw  the  blank  amazement  which  appalled  the  whole  com- 
pany; his  voice  assumed  the  tenderest  tone,  and  he  ad- 
dressed them  by  a  name  of  endearment:  "Children,  how 
hard  is  it  for  them  that  have  riches  to  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  heaven."  His  statement  was  however  of  the  most 
positive  kind,  and  he  spoke  with  unusual  force.  The  dis- 
appointment could  not  have  been  greater:  their  hopes  were 
dashed  at  a  blow.  How  deep  and  crushing  was  the  im- 
pression, the  memorable  Pentecost  revealed.  The  centuries 
have  listened  ;  and  sacrifices  beyond  numbering  have  been 
made  in  obedience  to  the  expressed  will,  and  the  example 
of  the  heavenly  Master. 

We  can  imagine  that  no  one  felt  the  disappointment 
more  keenly  than  he,  whose  lips  were  hermetically  sealed 
against  remonstrance.    If  the  followers  of   Jesus   were  to 


296  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

look  for  no  reward  in  this  life,  but  persecutions,  and  scourg. 
ings,  and  death ;  the  prospect  was  not  inviting  to  one  who 
yet  remained  silent,  however.  This  conversation  with  the 
young  ruler  was  a  revelation  to  all.  Not  only  he  went 
away  sorrowful ;  but  there  remained  a  company»of  sorrow- 
ful ones  behind.  Jesus  reassured  them  with  promises  of 
greater  good;  but  his  promises  seemed  indefinite  to  one 
who  knew  no  greater  good  than  the  possession  of  riches. 
Instructions  so  unearthlj^  had  never  been  heard  before; 
such  a  damper  had  never  before  been  put  upon  all  their 
expectations.  I'^ver^^  word  recorded  itself  upon  the  tablet 
of  memory  with  a  pen  of  iron.  The  Master  had  at  length 
spoken  out  without  reserve;  and  every  word  like  a  heavy 
blow  crushed  them  beneath  its  stroke. 

Who  can  but  be  moved  witli  pity  as  he  contemplates  this 
disconsolate  soul?  Judas  saw  the  dark  side  of  the  Chris- 
tian life;  but  its  brightness  was  entirely  concealed  from 
him;  he  saw  the  cross  with  all  its  self-denial;  but  did  not 
see  the  crown.  He  realized  what  was  contained  in  the  loss 
of  all  things;  but  knew  nothing  of  the  inward  supports, 
the  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory,  and  the  hundred  fold 
more  in  thislife.  The  path  was  to  him  a  way  of  privation  and 
contempt,  with  no  indwelling  comforter  to  extract  ]oy  out 
of  sorrow,  and  gild  the  dark  clouds  with  a  lining  of  glorj^ 
His  cup  had  all  the  bitterness,  and  none  of  the  sweets, 
none  of  the  consolations  of  God,  which  are  neither  few  nor 
small. 

How  little  he  knew  of  Christ,  though  in  daily  contact 
with  him!  He  had  h  ard  the  words  of  him,  who  spake  as 
never  man  spake,  and  not  appreciated  the  inconceivable 
love  that  uttered  them ;  had  never  discerned  the  yearning 
pity,  that  rejoices  in  the  repentance  of  a  sinner  more  than 
over  ninety  and  nine  that  went  not  astray ;  had  no  con- 
ception of  that  loving  kindness,  whose  pulse  throbs  with 
ecstasy  over  the  recovery  of  a  lost  soul,  and  the  restora- 
tion of  one  that  had  been  mourned  as  dead.  In  one  word, 
he  had  never  gained  a  distant  view  of  the  self-sacrificing- 
love  of  him  he  followed.  He  had  seen  the  miracles;  recos;- 
nized  the  divinity;  but  never  seen  the  Savior.  He  had 
heard  the  voice:  but  his  soul  had  never  discerned  the  music 


CALVARY   AND   ITS   VICTIM.  297 

of  the  celestial  love,  that  o-ave  it  its  enrapturing  melody. 
The  being,  who  is  the  love-wonder  of  the  skies,  had  moved 
before  him ;  but  having  eyes,  he  had  not  seen ;  having  ears, 
he  had  not  heard. 

The  day  of  the  triumphal  entry  into  Jerusalem  at  length 
an-ived.  Centuries  before,  the  prophet  had  in  vision  seen 
the  unbroken  and  unbridled  colt  bearing  the  meek  and 
lowly  King,  with  its  mother  following;  and  passing  unter- 
rified  amid  shouting  thousands,  and  over  outspread  gar- 
ments and  branches  of  trees,  contrary  to  its  instincts,  but 
steady  in  its  course.  After  the  dreadful  end,  the  disciples 
remembered  how  perfectly  they  had  unconsciously  fulfilled  the 
prediction  to  the  letter.  Olivet  never  beheld  a  grander 
parade  in  state.  Jesus  on  that  memorable  day  accepted 
the  title  "Son  of  David;"'  and  the  multitude  made  the 
heaven  ring  with  it.  The  disciples  were  carried  away  with 
the  enthusiam  of  the  people,  which  not  unreasonably 
reached  the  highest  pitch,  encouraged  by  the  assent  of  the 
leader  himself.  The  hopes  of  Judas  revived;  none  shouted 
louder  than  he,  or  did  more  to  inflame  the  zeal  of  the 
crowd.  The  Master,  formerly  unwilling,  now  is  consenting 
to  the  kingdom.  But  in  the  midst  of  all  this  honor  and 
acclaim,  the  simple  sight  of  the  city  caused  Jesus  to  burst 
into  tears,  and  to  weep  loudly  and  bitterly ;  and  the  words 
that  issued  from  his  tear-wet  lips  were  words  of  doom,  de- 
voting the  holy  city  to  destruction.  For  such  words  of 
denunciation  uttered  in  invective,  any  other  man  would 
have  paid  with  his  life  on  the  spot.  They  were  heard  with 
a  pang. 

When  our  Lord  entered  the  city,  its  whole  population 
down  to  the  children  were  in  the  streets,  and  on  the  roofs  of 
the  houses.  He  came  down  upon  his  enemies  like  an  ava. 
lanche;  wrested  the  holy  house  from  their  jurisdiction, 
establishing  himself  in  it,  and  sustaining  his  claim  unan- 
swerabh'  in  every  colloquy;  passed  judgment  of  condem- 
nation on  all  the  sects  of  Judaism,  being  Lord  of  the  tem- 
ple and  Master  of  the  situation ;  sitting  superior  to  every 
attack;  so  that  "no  man  any  more  durst  ask  him  any 
question."  After  every  mouth  had  been  stopped,  he  pressed 
his  own  claims  to  the  Messiahship  triumphantly;   and  sat 


298  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

in  judgment  on  the  rulers,  deuouncinp;  them  in  the  strong- 
est words  ever  uttered.  He  was  an  adversary  not  to  be 
encountered  openly  in  honest  contest.  When  Judas  marked 
the  livid  countenances  of  the  rulers,  in  which  rage  and 
fear  were  equally  visible,  noted  their  intense  malignity,  and 
the  cruel  determination  of  their  look;  and  remembered  how 
the  Nazarene  abjured  all  self-defence;  he  formed  his  own 
conclusions  as  to  which  party  was  likely  to  prevail. 

It  is  not  probable  that  the  terrible  purpose  to  betray  his 
Lord  was  formed  by  the  traitor;  until  he  had  been  pub- 
licly reproved  again  at  the  table  of  Simon  in  Bethany; 
where  he  had  been  lamenting  the  waste  of  money  by  the 
use  of  the  highest  priced  ointment  in  the  market.  Money 
was  the  centre,  around  which  his  soul  revolved.  He  had 
even  gained  the  concurrence  of  some  of  the  twelve  in  his 
complaints;  but  when  the  Master  approved  the  act,  and 
received  the  gift  as  the  burial  service  of  an  undying  love, 
like  the  flowers  with  which  affection  adorns  the  coffin;  his 
words  were  so  tender  and  so  solemn,  containing  the  high- 
est enconium  his  lips  ever  uttered;  that  the  old  wound  re- 
ceived at  Capernaum  was  torn  open  and  bled  afresh.  Re- 
proof repeated  becomes  intolerable:  and  often  exasperat- 
ing. Judas  at  once  put  himself  in  communication  with 
the  enemies;  and  when  soon  afterwards,  Jesus  gave  him 
to  understand  that  he  knew  all  that  was  passing ;  and  even 
designated  him  to  Peter  and  John,  we  are  told  that 
"Satan  entered  into  him:''  i.  e.  his  anger  became  unbound- 
ed; and  an  awful  hardness  of  heart,  and  reckless  disre- 
gard of  consequence  overmastered  him. 

He  hastened  to  the  hall  of  the  high  priest,  where  the 
rulers  were  in  session;  and  had  just  voted  to  take  no 
steps  against  the  Nazarene,  until  after  the  feast;  Avhen 
Judas  rushed  into  their  assembly  in  the  greatest  trepida- 
tion and  haste  with  the  question:  "what  will  ye  give  me; 
and  I  will  betray  him  unto  you?"  They  saw  that  he  was 
so  angered  and  determined;  that  he  could  be  induced  for 
a  small  sum  to  gratify  his  own  private  revenge,  and  they 
agreed  with  him  for  thirty  shekels:  "a  goodly  price  that  I 
was  prized  at  of  them."  Judas  did  not  set  the  price;  he 
took  whatever  the^^  offered. 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  299 

The  plans  of  the  rulers  were  immediately  changed  to  suit 
the  new  situation,  and  act  before  another  failure  could 
occur.  Crime  ahva3^s  moves  in  hot  haste,  without  time  for 
thought.  The  traitor  judged  correctly  as  to  the  conflict 
between  men  without  principle  or  conscience,  and  unresist- 
ing innocence,  as  men  of  the  world  judge.  He  was  not  go- 
ing to  be  on  the  losing  side  all  the  time.  It  can  hardly  be 
concluded  that  he  betrayed  his  Lord  for  money.  He  was  a 
man  who  would  do  nothing  without  a  money  consideration* 
but  the  priests  took  advantage  of  his  state  of  mind ;  or  he 
could  have  secured  a  much  better  bargain.  It  was  done 
out  of  revenge  for  the  great  disappointment  of  his  life,  and 
the  terrible  rebukes  which  were  as  a  sword  in  his  bones. 

The  fated  thirtj^  pieces  burned  his  flesh  like  fire ;  and  when 
he  cast  them  aw^ay  in  the  temple,  his  employers  would  not 
touch  them  to  gather  them  up;  and  they  durst  not  de- 
posit them  in  the  chest  devoted  to  contributions;  the  pot- 
ter with  his  own  fingers  had  to  pick  them  from  the  marble 
fioor.  The  traitor  became  the  most  effective  witness  of  the 
twelve  to  the  immaculate  sinlessness,  and  absolute  divinity 
of  his  Master.  The  truth,  like  the  sun,  burst  through  the 
clouds  of  passion  and  of  sin  that  had  darkened  his  soul. 
It  is  astonishing  how  a  great  sin  opens  the  eyes  to  for- 
gotten truths  and  facts.  In  his  despair  it  did  not  comfort 
him  that  the  enemies  were  on  the  winning  side,  and  had  pre- 
vailed. He  saw  his  Master  condemned:  the  lamb  in  the 
jaws  of  the  ravening  wolves.  Never  was  a  dying  testimony 
more  sincere.  Not  Peter,  in  all  his  ministry,  nor  John,  in 
his  long  :life,  bore  louder  testimony.  He  bequeathed  his 
name  to  the  bit  of  ground,  the  scene  of  his  death.  The 
humble  prophet  of  Nazareth  had  no  stronger  attestation 
than  the  unquenchable  fires  of  remorse,  and  the  gnawing- 
worm  of  torment  of  which  the  traitor  was  the  subject. 


300  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


THE  ARREST  AND  EXAMINATION  BEFORE  CAIAPHAS. 


That  the  arrest  of  the  prophet  of  Nazareth  was  under- 
stood to  be  a  nice  and  delicate  affair  is  discernible  from 
the  presence  of  the  senior  officer  of  the  Roman  garrison, 
corresponding  to  a  colonel  in  modern  army  service,  with 
the  party  sent  to  apprehend  him.  This  leader  was  a  man 
of  experience  in  cases  of  danger,  and  possessed  unlimited 
discretion  in  the  matter  confided  to  him.  The  guards  as- 
signed to  the  task  were  a  squad  of  temple  police  with 
their  batons  or  clubs,  staves  as  they  are  called;  and  a  de- 
tail of  Roman  soldiers  armed  with  the  short  swords  which 
were  for  use  in  hand  to  hand  encounters ;  besides  a  com- 
pany of  attendants  with  lanterns  and  torches,  with  Avhich 
the  thickest  recesses  of  the  olive  orchard,  where  he  was  to 
be  found,  could  be  explored.  The  design  evidently  was  to 
make  a  seizure  of  the  whole  company  of  disciples  and 
teacher. 

Arriving  at  the  gate  of  the  enclosure  designated  by  the 
traitor,  as  the  haunt  of  him  they  sought;  they  were  met 
at  the  entrance  by  the  figure  of  a  man  who  demanded  of 
them:  "Whom  seek  ya"  at  this  unseasonable  hour  and  in 
this  sequestered  place?  and  when  they  answered,  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  he  replied:  "I  am  he."  The  light  of  the  moon 
showed  him  almost  as  distinctly  as  the  light  of  day  could 
have  done.  Never  was  his  countenance  more  radiant  with 
submission  and  more  expressive  of  the  love  whose  fiood- 
tide  was  even  then  overtopping  the  highest  mountains  of 
human  sin ;  and  his  very  voice  had  a  tone  of  more  than 
mortal  tenderness.  The  surprise  of  the  sudden  encounter 
and  the  indescribable  boldness  of  the  intended  victim  sent 
a  shock  to  the  hearts  of  the  posse;  and  a  sudden  convic- 
tion   flashed    upon    them    of  the  infamy    of   their   errand, 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  301 

as  leading  an  attack  upon  immaculate  innocence,  and  lend- 
ing themselves  as  tools  in  the  hands  of  groundless  mal- 
ice. A  brief  paralysis  subdued  their  strength,  and  sank 
their  hearts  in  dismay.  They  staggered  backward,  and  fell 
to  the  ground. 

The  one  first  to  recover  was  Judas  :  and  the  whole 
scheme  of  arrest  might  have  failed ;  had  he  not  pressed 
forward,  and  seized  the  Master,  and  kissed  him.  No  more 
striking  exhibition  of  submission  could  be  afforded  by  the 
sinless  victim,  than  the  giving  of  his  lips  to  the  kiss  of 
the  traitor.  It  was  like  giving  his  soul  -to  the  temptation 
of  Satan.  "Whom  seek  ye?"  the  voice  again  demanded. 
"I  have  told  jou,  that  I  am  he.  If  ye  seek  me,  let  these 
go  their  way."  He  thus  surrendered,  stipulating  his  own 
conditions,  which  were,  that  his  disciples  might  pass  awa^' 
unmolested. 

Under  the  spell  of  his  individuality,  it  was  impossible  to 
do  otherwise  than  as  he  asked;  and  the  officer,  in  whom 
was  the  discretion,  could  but  agree.  Even  in  this  hour  of 
weakness,  he  was  the  superior,  party.  When,  however,  the 
familiars  of  the  high  priest,  who  were  the  proper  ones  to 
make  the  arrest,  approached  and  laid  their  hands  upon 
Jesus  to  seize  and  bind  him,  the  sword  of  Peter  smote  the 
foremost,  and,  his  head  being  probably  protected  hy  some 
stout  covering,  cut  off  his  right  ear.  The  touch  of  the  Mas- 
ter replaced  the  ear,  and  healed  the  w^ound,  saving  his 
enemies  from  the  least  damage  in  the  seizure  of  his  per- 
son; causing  them  to  realize  for  a  moment,  that  them- 
selves were  in  his  power;  rather  than  he  in  theirs.  No 
soldier,  nor  sword  nor  torch  was  needed  for  the  arrest; 
the  lamb  was  ready  for  the  sacrifice.  So  glaring  an  out- 
rage could  not  be  allowed  to  pass  without  a  protest;  and 
it  was  made  when  the  prisoner  asked :  "are  ye  come  out  as 
against  a  thief  wuth  swords  and  staves  to  take  me?  I  sat 
daily  with  you  teaching  in  the  temple,  and  ye  laid  no  hold 
on  me."  That  they  should  pursue  him  by  night  in  his 
solitude  like  a  hiding  criminal,  when  opportunities  abounded 
daily  of  open  proceedings,  betrayed  the  character  of  the 
measures  taken  against  him.    The  disciples  waited  in  con- 


302  THE    GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

sternatioii  until  they  saw  him  bound,  and  led  away  in  the 
power  of  the  enemies;  and  then  they  all  forsook  him  and 
fled  unpursued. 

A  lar2,'e  company  had  followed  the  police  and  soldiers, 
ainono;  whom  were  chief  priests,  elders  of  the  Sanhedrin  and 
others;  interest  and  curiosity  had  g-athered  a  crowd  who 
sympathized  with  the  Jewish  leaders;  a  sing-le  friend  of  the 
Nazarene,  just  fresh  from  his  pillow,  was  pursued  by  the 
officials,  and  narrowly  escaped  capture.  To  the  assembled 
multitude  our  Lord  then  said:  "This  is  your  hour,  and 
the  power  of  darkness."  Night  and  darkness  befit  such 
proceedino's;  and  these  actors  are  in  open  league  with  the 
great  prince  of  evil;  though  vmaware  of  the  fact. 

The  prisoner  was  led  to  the  house  of  Annas  the  patriarch 
of  the  priestly  connection,  w^ho  sent  him  to  Caiaphas  the 
legal  high  priest,  before  whom  the  examination  related  by 
the  evangelists  was  had.  In  considering  the  accounts  it  is 
impossible  not  to  be  amazed  at  the  extreme  haste  of  the 
whole  procedure.  Never  was  process  rushed  through  with 
such  indecent  hurry.  The  arrest  occurred  not  far  from 
midnight;  and  execution  followed  at  nine  of  the  following 
morning;  and  this  after  passing  through  three  several 
courts,  and  before  three  several  judges.  Nothing  like  it 
can  be  found  in  the  history  of  civilized  administration;  ex- 
cept under  martial  law ;  when  the  sword  dispenses  sum- 
mary justice  on  the  spot.  Their  own  time-honored  forms 
were  violated  at  every  step  of  the  affair.  This  nervous 
haste  accompanies  ever  the  commission  of  crime;  once  de- 
termined on,  a  certa/iD  fever  of  the  soul  forbids  delay.  The 
criminal  shuts  his  eyes,  and  plunges  headlong  with  accel- 
erated pulse.  Nothing  can  be  more  irksome  to  him  than 
reflection;  and  it  is  forcefully  hushed.  In  the  consumma- 
tion of  the  death  of  Christ  there  was  fearful  haste.  "He 
was  taken  without  prison,  and  without  judgment."  Is.  53:  8. 
The  high  day  of  the  feast  was  just  upon  them;  but  the 
least  delay  could  not  be  permitted.  The  actors  in  this 
tragedy  were  deaf  to  argument,  blind  to  results;  driven  by 
the  fiercest  impulses;  and,  as  the  end  showed,  nothing 
could    have  deterred   them  from    their  determined  course; 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  SOS 

they  were  hurried  by  the  breath  of  a  blast  from  the  pit  to 
the  completion  of  their  purpose.  Behind  them  was  the 
arch  fiend. 

The  high  priest,  the  presiding  officer  of  the  council,  was 
openly  and  professedly  hostile  to  the  prisoner;  once  in  his 
life  he  had  prophesied,  for  occasional  inspiration  belonged 
to  his  office ;  and  he  had  the  presumption  to  interpret  and 
understand  his  prophecy  according  to  his  own  passions; 
instead  of  humbly  inquiring  what  manner  of  time  the  spirit 
signified.  Fortified  thus  by  insuperable  conviction,  he  pre- 
sided only  to  secure  the  condemnation  of  the  one  arraigned 
at  his  bar.  Hence  all  the  rulings  of  the  court  were  against 
the  prisoner,  and  against  right  and  justice  as  well. 

From  being  judge  he  voluntarily  assumed  the  role  of  prose- 
cutor. He  permitted  the  innocent  to  be  Avantonly  smitten 
on  the  mouth,  for  the  only  answer  proper  to  his  inquisi- 
torial question.  This  blow  revealed  the  surprising  fact, 
carefully  noted;  that  the  dreaded  miracle  worker  could  be 
smitten  with  impunity.  The  judge  administered  no  rebuke 
to  the  over  oflicious  attendant,  who  was  employed  to  pre- 
serve suitable  order  in  the  assembly;  not  to  administer 
punishment  to  the  uncondemned.  He  labored  to  the  dawn- 
ing of  the  day  to  find  false  witness  against  the  sinless  one, 
carefully  abstaining  from  insisting  on  the  criminality  of 
perjury,  and  the  sacredness  of  human  life,  as  the  rules  re- 
quired. The  assurance  of  impunity  encouraged  the  produc- 
tion of  evidence.  Every  oath  taken  in  that  hall  on  that 
fatal  night  was  a  perjury ;  and  this  the  high  priest  made  no 
effort  to  prevent. 

He  so  far  forgot  the  responsibilities  of  his  high  position, 
as  to  fall  into  a  towering  passion  against  the  prisoner ;  be- 
cause batfled  in  every  attempt  to  secure  legal  testimony 
against  him.  It  sounds  in  his  words  of  adjuration,  and 
appears  in  his  unseemly  violence  in  rending  the  robe  that 
covered  his  anointed  bosom,  being  betrayed  into  ungovern- 
able anger  at  the  invulnerability  of  innocence.  And  then 
he  suffered  that  horrid  scene  of  abuse  made  up  of  taunts 
and  blows  and  spitting;  for  he  permitted  it  in  open  court, 
and  perhaps  set  the  example  himself,  against  a  victim  yet 
uncondemned ;  for  the    whole    power  of    condemnation    in 


304  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

capital  cases  was  vested  in  tlie  Roman  o-overnor.  The 
mockery  was  premature ;  as  Pilatti,  had  he  obe^^ed  his  own 
convictions,  would  never  have  consented,  without  the 
threatening  of  an  impending  insurrection.  The  really  dan- 
gerous Barrabas  could  be  released  without  a  resulting  tu- 
mult; Jesus  of  Nazareth,  never.  It  had  been  instinctively 
felt  that  his  person  was  inviolable:  the  judge  and  senators 
had  learned  the  conti-ary;  and  when  the  opportunity  offered, 
they  manifested  their  unutterable  scorn  and  their  still  sur- 
passing hatred  of  him  whom  they  had  reason  to  know  to 
be  God's  "righteous  servant." 

Such  was  the  judge;  and  as  for  the  testimony,  it  was  all 
false;  as  the  witnesses  examined  separately,  without  the 
possibility  of  collusion,  did  not  any  two  of  them,  which 
was  the  smallest  number  allowed  in  capital  cases,  agree  in 
their  testimony.  The  closest  approach  to  harmony  was 
made  by  two,  probably  members  of  the  council,  and  them- 
selves judges,  one  of  them  witnessing.  This  fellow  said:  "I  am 
abel  to  destroy  this  temple,  and  to  build  it  in  three  days:" 
Matt.  26:  61;  and  the  other:  " 7  will  destroy  this  temple, 
that  is  made  with  hands;  and  within  three  days  I  will 
build  another  made  without  hands."    Mk.  14:   58. 

To  repeat  a  man's  words  verbatim  requires  a  nice  hear- 
ing, and  an  exact  memory ;  as  the  slightest  variation  of  a 
single  word  may  change  the  sense  entirel3\  So  in  this  case 
Jesus  had  not  said,  "I  will  destroy  this  temple,"  but  do 
"you  destroy  this  temple;"  and  this  change  of  one  small- 
est word  would  remove  all  shadow  of  a  possible  charge 
against  him  on  this.^^round. 

Again,  the  accompanying  gesture  was  as  necessary  to  be 
repeated  as  the  words.  He  did  not  in  speaking  wave  his 
hand  toward  the  lofty  pile  of  glittering  marble,  as  the 
teniple  to  which  he  referred ;  but  probably  folded  his  arms 
across  his  own  breast,  thereby  indicating  the  only  real 
temple  in  existence.  The  Shechinah  had  never  been  pres- 
ent in  the  second  house;  but  did  tabernacle  in  his  own 
body.  These  witnesses,  thus  guilty  of  perjury  and  of  in- 
tended murder  in  attempting  to  swear  away  an  innocent 
life,  met  with  no  punishment  nor  even  reproof  from  the 
representative  of  Hebrew  justice. 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM,  305 

But  supposing  that  their  testimon}^  had  agreed ;  and  that 
the  prisoner  had  said  what  was  reyjorted ;  words  onl}^  were 
proved  thereby,  and  no  overt  act  of  contempt.  Had  the 
whole  history  of  the  temple  cleansing  been  fairly  given;  the 
high  priest  would  have  been  proved  the  real  desecrator  of 
the  holy  house,  and  Jesus  of  Nazareth  its  vindicator.  So 
the  lamb,  standing  farther  down  the  stream,  had  fouled 
the  water  where  the  wolf  was  drinking  above  him,  and  must 
pay  the  penalty  with  his  life.  Hatj-ed,  sitting  in  the  seat 
of  power,  is  never  at  a  loss  for  reasons,  and  never  con- 
scious of  the  most  glaring  inconsistencies  and  aberrations 
from  truth  and  justice. 

In  this  trial,  the  actors  were  violating  all  the  self-imposed 
rules  oi  their  court.  No  rules  could  be  more  fair  or  just, 
and  even  kind,  than  the  standing  directions  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Jewish  Sanhedrin,  as  they  had  been  estab- 
lished by  long  usage.  Some  of  them  are  as  follows:  The 
office  of  the  Sanhedrin  is  to  save  life,  not  to  destroy  it; 
its  object  is  to  stand  between  a  man  arraigned,  and  the 
iurj  of  the  populace;  and  to  shield  the  victim  from  the 
prejudice  and  injustice  of  the  multitude;  no  one  is  to  be 
made  to  incriminate  himself;  the  accused  is  always  to  be 
allowed  counsel,  and  to  call  witnesses;  witnesses  are  to  be 
reminded  of  their  responsibilities,  and  of  the  sacredness  of 
human  life;  perjury  is  a  heinous  offence  against  God  and 
man;  and  one  guilty  thereof  is  to  be  held  liable  to  the 
same  punishment  which  his  testimony,  if  true,  would  have 
brought  upon  the  accused ;  capital  trials  cannot  be  held  on 
Friday;  no  trial  can  be  carried  through  in  the  night;  a 
majority  of  tw^o  is  required  in  order  to  condemn;  a  day  of 
fasting  must  intervene  after  trial,  before  an  accused  man 
is  pronounced  guilty ;  and  sentence  must  never  be  executed 
on  the  day  of  the  trial;  no  one  having  spoken  in  favor  of 
acquittal,  can  afterwards  vote  to  condemn. 

Such  were  some  of  their  established  rules  of  procedure; 
and  it  must  be  confessed  that  better,  as  securing  the  wel- 
fare and  safety  of  the  citizen,  w^ere  never  adopted  or  en- 
forced in  any  land.  The  spirit  of  the  whole  code  inclines  to 
leniency  and  moderation  ;  and  agrees  well  with  the  manifest 
precepts  of  their  religion.  In  the  present  case,  however,  no 
-20 


306  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

favor  was  shown  to  the  prisoner,  w4io,  as  he  had  been  si- 
lent to  the  slanders  of  the  world,  and  the  accusations  of 
his  enemies,  now  yielded  himself  unresistingly  to  their  treat- 
ment ;  no  tongue  remonstrating,  when  ever^''  custom  of  their 
court,  and  every  rule  of  right,  was  openly,  repeatedly,  and 
continually  violated. 

The  nation  had  turned  with  bloody  vengeance  on  every 
reprover ;  and  now  with  tenfold  fury  were  assailing  the  sin- 
less one.  The  children  of  those  who  had  killed  the  prophets, 
were  preparing  to  fill  the  measure  of  their  fathers;  and 
make  the  earth  quake  with  astonishment,  and  the  sun  to 
put  on  robes  of  mourning. 

The  silence  of  the  accused  produced  a  most  marked  effect. 
It  was  not  the  silence  of  haughtiness,  nor  of  sulleniiess,  nor 
of  stoical  indifference;  it  was  a  most  expressive  condemna- 
tion of  the  whole  course  of  proceedings.  He  would  take  no 
part  whatever  in  a  trial  begun  in  causeless  malice,  carried 
out  in  shameless  injustice,  and  whose  issue  was  settled  be- 
3'ond  possibility  of  change,  before  process  was  commenced. 
Men,  Avho  w^ould  disbelieve  the  testimony  of  the  soldiers 
still  trembling  from  the  presence  of  the  angel  of  the  resur- 
rection, and  bribe  them  to  a  lie  in  the  face  of  such  divine 
demonstration,  were  not  to  be  turned  from  their  purpose 
by  the  words  of  a  prisoner  in  their  power.  They  were  be- 
3^ond  the  reach  of  argument  or  appeal;  and  had  passed 
beyond  the  control  of  reason  and  truth. 

Here  was  a  prisoner,  who  opened  not  his  mouth  to  defend 
himself  (such  a  spectacle  was  never  seen  before  or  since),  or 
to  lower  the  sublime  dignity  of  his  position  by  deferring 
one  word  to  the  jurisdiction  of  a  court,  in  which  hatred 
and  envy  sat  on  the  bench,  and  filled  the  stalls  of  the  vo- 
ters. This  was  the  course  for  him  to  pursue,  who  knew 
what  was  in  man,  to  whom  all  the  hearts  of  the  actors 
were  naked  and  open.  He  gave  himself  to  their  judgment 
and  their  insults;  as  he  gave  his  back  to  the  smiters,  and 
his  cheeks  to  them  who  plucked  off  the  hair. 

The  effect  of  this  passion  was  visible  in  the  action  of  the 
high  priest,  who  with  violence  in  his  gestures  and  anger  in 
his  tone,  disappointed  in  not  procuring  evidence  that  could 
be  entertained  by  the  council,  may  have  said.    I  know  how 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  307 

to  make  ^'Oii  speak,  and  incriminate  yourself.  "'I  adjure 
thee  by  the  living-  God,  that  thou  tell  us  whether  thou 
be  the  Christ,  the  son  of  the  blessed."  In  this  trial  no 
charge  had  been  made  of  his  deceiving  the  people  by  false 
or  pretended  miracles.  These  men  had  investigated,  and 
were  well  aware  that  his  mightj^  works  could  neither  be  de- 
nied, nor  impugned.  No  charge  was  made  of  false  doc- 
trine, or  of  teachings  inconsistent  with  the  revealed  word 
of  God.  They  were  constrained  to  admit:  "thou  teachest 
the  way  of  God  truly"  in  the  very  doctrines  of  the  Jewish 
scriptures. 

The  stone  of  stumbling  and  i-ock  of  offence  was  his  per- 
sonality. Yet  in  all  the  predictions,  of  the  Messiah,  no  one 
thing  appertaining  to  him  was  more  strongly  emphasized 
than  his  full  divinity.  Although  Jesus  had  never  publicly 
and  distinctly  avowed  his  Messiahship  nor  his  dignity :  but 
had  only  done  so  in  private  and  to  individuals;  and  had 
left  all  to  be  inferred  from  his  works  and  instructions ;  yet 
Caiaphas  as  well  as  the  whole  nation  were  well  aware  of 
his  claims.  The  tone  of  divinity  sounded  in  all  his  teach- 
ings: the  manner  of  God  discovered  itself  in  all  his  mira- 
cles: His  presence  had  in  it  the  authority  of  unblem- 
ished holiness,  and  purity  incapable  of  stain.  "He  could 
not  be  hid." 

Thus  called  upon  not  for  defence  but  with  regard  to  his 
sublime  individuality,  our  Lord,  responsive  to  the  oath 
imposed,  hesitated  not  to  answer  with  a  boldness,  that 
shocked  the  questioner,  and  an  imperial  elevation  of  man- 
ner, that  showed  all  that  heard,  that  he  felt  the  high  con- 
sciousness of  being  all  he  claimed:  "thou  hast  said  it:  [ 
am.  Nevertheless  i.  e.  (notwithstanding  the  scorn  with 
which  I  am  regarded)  hereafter  shall  ye  see  the  son  of 
man  sitting  on  the  right  hand  of  power,  and  coming  in 
the  clouds  of  heaven."  Words  never  had  greater  force  than 
these:  the  declaration  convulsed  the  assembly;  destroyed 
its  decorum  entirely;  and  changed  its  aspect  from  that  of 
a  court  of  justice  to  a  mob  of  howling  canaille.  The  high 
priest  rent  his  robe,  and  cried  blasphemy:  all  sprang  to 
their  feet  and  demanded  in  chorus,  each  for  himself:    "art 


308  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

thou  then  the  son  of  God?"  and  when  he  rephed:  "ve  say 
that  which  I  am,"  joined  in  the  shout  of  blasphemy;  and 
condemned  him  to  death. 

The  words  of  Jesus  possessed  a  force  never  attending-  the 
utterance  of  a  mere  man.  They  were  felt  more  deeply  and 
remembered  longer.  They  seem  often  to  have  rankled  in 
the  memory  of  hearers.  Once  heard  they  were  never  for- 
gotten; as  the  speaker  once  seen  never  vanished  from  the 
view;  but  haunted  the  memory  of  beholders.  The  picture 
never  faded,  or  lost  its  vivid  reality.  As  he  himself  was 
sui  generis,  so  was  every  word  from  his  lips,  every  expres- 
sion of  his  countenance;  and  everything  he  did  partook 
of  the  mystery  which  invested  himself.  It  is  therefore  im- 
possible to  form  an  adequate  conception  of  him :  art  has 
labored  in  vain  to  delineate  him :  no  conception  of  him 
has  ever  been  attained,  which  satisfies  the  demands  of  the 
soul. 

But  mere  condemnation  did  not  satisfy  the  deep  dislike 
of  these  councillors.  They  abandoned  the  order  of  a 
solemn  assembly;  and  surrounded  him  to  "spit  upon  him, 
to  buffet  him,  and  to  smite  him  with  the  palms  of 
their  hands,"  having  discovered  that  it  was  safe  to  vent 
their  insults  upon  him.  It  is  difficult  to  imagine  a  greater 
insult  than  for  a  man  to  stand  and  spit,  and  spit  leisurely, 
to  hawk  the  filthy  mucus  from  the  depths  of  an  unclean 
throat,  and  eject  it  into  the  eyes  and  upon  the  cheeks  and 
lips  of  a  hated  opponent.  Perhaps  the  like  has  never  been 
done  in  any  other  case.  As  an  expression  of  unutterable 
contempt,  it  remains,  and  ever  will  remain  unparalleled 
and  alone.  If  this  had  been  the  deed  of  low,  half  civihzed 
rufiians,  it  might  pass  as  expressing  the  barbarism  of  the 
actors.  But  for  calm  and  sober  jurists,  many  of  them 
aged,  to  condescend  to  abuse  of  this  kind,  shows  them  to 
have  been  transported  with  an  emnity  which  defies  expla- 
nation, which  for  a,  time  transformed  them,  and  as  yet  he 
was  uncondemned. 

The  desire  of  the  tormentors  was  to  subdue  the  spirit  of 
the  holy  sufferer,  to  cower  him,  and  abate  the  lofty  eleva- 
tion of  his  demeanor.    For  this  the}'  persisted  in  inflicting 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  309 

upon  him  the  foulest  disoraee  that  could  be  contrived, 
united  with  as  much  physical  sufferinp;  as  possible.  His 
bold  and  overwhelming  profession  of  his  Messiahship  and 
relation  to  the  eternal  Father  must  have  convinced  them 
of  the  utter  futility  of  their  efforts;  nor  could  they  b3'  all 
possible  indignities  bring  the  slightest  tinge  of  shame  upon 
that  holy  cheek.  Of  shame  he  w^as  not  susceptible:  easier 
a  thousand  fold  were  it  for  a  worm  to  stain  the  sun  with 
shame,  or  dwarf  its  glory ;  than  for  Jewish  enemies  to  cast 
down  the  countenance  of  the  Holy  One,  or  change  his  in- 
Avard  consciousness  of  oneness  with  God,  or  produce  the 
slightest  wavering  of  his  purpose.  His  infinite  superiority 
was  only  made  more  manifest  by  the  attempt. 

Very  early  in  the  morning  of  the  following  day  an  orderly 
meeting  of  the  Sanhedrin  was  held,  a  night  session  being 
forbidden  by  their  rules.  A  full  understanding  and  agree- 
ment had  been  reached,  however,  during  the  night  confer- 
ence, of  the  steps  to  be  taken  in  carrying  out  their  de- 
sign ;  so  that  a  meeting  of  a  few  minutes'  duration  was  all 
that  was  needed.  The  prisoner  was  at  once  judged  worthy 
of  death,  and  it  was  determined  to  deliver  him  to  the  Ro- 
man power,  as  being  guilty  of  treason  against  Rome,  by 
claiming  to  be  a  king  himself.  His  execution  was  demanded 
on  that  very  day,  though  such  an  appointment  of  the  day 
was  expressly  forbidden  by  their  own  regulations. 

The  least  promising  body  of  men,  in  a  religious  sense,  as 
men,  in  any  state  or  kingdom,  often  is  the  legislative  body. 
Their  presence  in  a  city  is  often  realized  to  be  no  advant- 
age to  the  inhabitants.  The  members  of  the  Jewish  Senate 
were  many  of  them  advanced  in  age,  inveterate  in  their 
opinions  and  prejudices,  rich,  and,  as  a  body  adept  in 
state-craft,  men  of  policy,  corrupt  in  principle,  and  wholly 
worldly  in  all  their  character.  Such  were  the  men,  who 
condemned  the  Nazarene;  but  they  expressed  in  this  act 
the  deliberate  will  of  the  people.  The  nation  was  present 
in  force  at  this  passover,  impressed  with  the  sense  that  a 
great  crisis  was  at  hand ;  and  that  the  occasion  was  big 
with  mighty  destinies.    Their  voice  decided    against  their 


310  THE  GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

Messiah,  when  the\'  said,  after  Pilate  had  washed  his  hands 
of  the  blood  of  this  just  man:  "His  blood  be  on  us  and 
on  our  children."  The  mockery,  the  spitting,  the  cruel 
blows  were  the  acts  of  their  high  priest  and  senators,  some 
of  whom  still,  in  the  depths  of  their  souls,  believed  that  he 
could  not  be  other  than  he  professed  to  be.  Jno.  12:  42. 
The  rejection  was  the  deliberate  act  of  the  nation. 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  311 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


THE  TRIAL  BEFORE  PILATE. 


It  is  difRcult  to  understand  how  the  Jewish  people  should 
so  wonderfully  err  about  their  long;  expected  Messiah;  as 
the  time  of  his  coming-  was  so  definitely  fixed  by  prophecy. 
The  four  hundred  and  ninety  years  of  Daniel  were  expiring; 
the  sceptre  was  departing-  from  Judah ;  and  a  Gentile  power 
was  laying'  a  direct  tax,  and  collecting-  it  by  its  own  officers. 
The  imposition  of  the  Eoman  census  was  the  cause  of 
Joseph's  journey  to  Bethlehem,  at  the  period  most  incon- 
venient to  his  espoused  wife ;  and  the  birth  of  Jesus  is  thus 
exactly  coincident  with  the  measure,  which  wrested  the 
sceptre  from  the  hand  of  Judah.  Simeon  and  Anna  knew, 
from  sources  open  to  the  w^hole  nation,  the  near  approach 
of  the  Messiah's  appearance  so  definitely,  as  to  make  it  a 
subject  of  special  prayer,  to  be  permitted  to  behold  him 
with  their  own  eyes. 

He  was  to  be  like  Moses,  who  renounced  a  throne,  and  de- 
spised the  glory  of  the  world;  and  who,  though  rejected  by  his 
people,  yet  became  their  conductor  through  the  wilderness 
to  the  borders  of  the  land  of  promise:  like  Moses  remark- 
able not  for  pride  and  pomp,  but  meekness ;  interceding  for 
an  ungrateful  nation,  continually  murmuring,  and  at  times 
almost  ready  to  stone  him.  The  pious  and  disinterested  com- 
passion of  Moses  for  a  guilty  people,  especially  the  sublime 
exercise  of  it,  to  which  he  rose  on  Mount  Sinai,  was  a 
transient  picture  of  the  unchanging  s^^npathy  of  the  man 
of  sorrows  for  an  unworthy  race. 

What  goes  far  toward  rendering  it  almost  impossible  to 
mistake  him  as  they  did,  was  the  preparatory  ministry  of 
the  Baptist.  If  he  had  been  rejected  by  them,  and  his  testi- 
mouy  disbelieved,  the  rejection  of  Jesus  would  not  have 
been  so    unaccountable.    But  John   was  received  as  a  true 


312  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

prophet  by  all  except  an  insignificant  fraction  of  Pharisees; 
though  he  wrought  no  miracle.  His  ministr}^  not  only 
awakened  the  attention  of  the  entire  people;  but  won  their 
confidence,  and  fixed  their  wavering  belief.  The  expecta- 
tion of  the  immediate  coming  of  the  Messiah  became  cer- 
tainty. John  designated  the  very  person  :  and  disappeared: 
his  career  was  terminated. 

But  the  Nazarene,  after  protracted  and  sufficient  acquaint- 
ance, w^as  deliberately  with  the  utmost  decision  rejected. 
It  was  not  the  act  of  a  few  tumultuous  spirits.  The  nation 
was  assembled  in  unwonted  number  at  the  greatest  of  their 
feasts.  It  was  the  act  not  of  the  priests  only:  it  had  the 
assent  of  the  multitude;  not  a  voice  rose  in  opposition.  It 
was  also  a  hasty  act:  the  course  once  determined  was 
carried  through  without  faltering,  and  with  unseemly  haste. 
The  exercise  of  reason  was  for  the  time  suspended.  In 
this  transaction  there  was  hot  haste,  uncontrollable 
enmity  was  urging;  and  sympathy  and  consideration  were 
stifled.  There  was  joy  at  the  unexpected  opportunity 
of  destroying  a  hated  pretender;  fear  lest  he  might 
yet,  in  some  unforseen  manner,  escape;  anxiety  to  improve 
at  once  the  feeling  of  the  people,  before  there  was  time  for 
reaction ;  and  uncertainty  as  to  their  own  success,  until  he 
was  put  beyond  the  possibility  of  annoying  them  farther. 
The  pulse  beat  hard  and  heavy  enough  to  almost  burst 
the  aching  arteries  in  which  it  throbbed.  There  was  not 
time  for  a  capital  execution  without  infringing  on  the  holy 
day,  the  high  day  of  ^the  feast.  Malefactors  if  hung  upon 
the  cross  must  yet  oe  murdered;  not  having  time  to  die 
the  death. 

The  condemnation  of  Jesus  by  their  council  was  without 
color  of  law.  A  Avhole  night  had  been  spent  in  a  fruitless 
endeavor  to  devise  a  legal  method  of  destroying  him ;  and 
failing  utterl}^  in  this,  they  had  proceeded  without  a  for- 
mulated charge,  and  without  a  legal  witness.  There  were 
many  witnesses ;  but  false,  because  the  testimony  of  no  two 
agreed. 

And  they  prevailed  with  Pilate  only  by  violence  and 
clamor.  The  prisoner  would  have  been  released ;  if  it  could 
have  been  effected  without    a  tumult.    It  was  only  on  this 


CALVARY   AND   ITS   VICTIM.  313 

conviction,  that  Pilate  yielded.  He  had  on  other  occasions 
been  forced  to  succumb  to  their  dictation ;  he  had  never 
seen  them  so  fierce  and  determined  before.  Barabbas,  with 
hands  stained  with  blood,  could  be  released  without  the  dis- 
pleasure of  the  populace  or  the  priests;  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
could  not  be  liberated  without  tumult.  Not  one  scrap  of 
evidence  was  produced  on  the  trial;  and  Avhere  was  there  a 
calm  consideration  and  adjudgment  of  the  case?  Nothing 
of  the  kind  appears,  but  a  violence  that  forced  the  judge 
to  act  contrary  to  the  most  painfully  solemn  convictions 
of  his  life.  How  dire  the  hatred  that  had  been  conceived 
in  the  short  term  of  a  three  year's  ministry! 

The  trial  was  not  even  conducted  in  the  court  room.  It 
was  not  only  a  mockery  of  right  and  justice;  but  on 
account  of  the  accusers,  being  unable  to  enter  the  hall  of  a 
Gentile  during  the  passover  solemnities  without  defilement, 
it  was  conducted  in  the  open  air,  in  the  presence  of  a  mob; 
and  had  not  even  the  show  of  a  high  criminal  court,  among 
a  civihzed,  not  to  say  a  religious  people.  Every  step  of 
this  passionate  procedure  merits  attention. 

I.  Pilate  endeavored  first  to  escape  the  necessity  of  sit- 
ting upon  this  case  at  all.  Perhaps  he  had  no  knowledge 
of  what  was  progressing,  until  he  was  early  awakened  not 
long  after  the  dawn  of  day,  b^'  the  noise  of  a  gathered 
crowd.  Going  out  at  the  call  of  the  Jewish  rulers,  he  be- 
held a  large  and  excited  assembly,  headed  by  the  priests 
and  elders,  and  in  the  midst  the  high  priest  accompanied 
by  a  prisoner  bound  to  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the 
governor. 

As  soon  as  he  learned  who  the  prisoner  was,  his  proposal 
to  the  leaders  shows  the  surprise  of  the  moment.  He  well 
knew  what  w^as  intended  by  an  application  to  himself. 
Without  taking  time  to  reflect,  he  said:  "take  ye  him,  and 
judge  him  according  to  your  law."  It  was  like  saying,  I  am 
never  applied  to  except  in  capital  cases  when  life  is  to  be  for- 
feited; but  in  this  case  I  return  the  prisoner  to  you;  do 
with  him  as  jou  may  please ;  I  do  not  wish  to  act  in  these 
premises.  If  he  is  put  to  death  even,  the  Roman  power 
shall  neither  interfere  nor  object.  In  smy  other  case,  had 
these  men  pi-oceeded  to  lengths  without  regard  to  him,  he 


314  THE  GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

would  have  speedily  reminded  them  of  the  limits  of  their 
authority.  But  astonished  at  the  apprehension  of  the  Naz- 
arene  prophet,  he  unthinkinoiy  expressed  his  unwillin^'ness 
to  have  any  part  in  his  condemnation.  The  answer  of  the 
high  priest  revealed  the  determination  to  which  the  leaders 
of  the  chosen  nation  had  deliberately  come,  and  devolved 
on  the  g-overnor  the  hateful  necessity  of  at  least  hearing 
the  complaint.  This  step  was  directed  by  an  overruling- 
Providence  to  fulfill  the  words  of  the  Savior  predicting  the 
manner  of  death  he  should  die. 

The  whole  matter  had  been  previously  concerted  among 
the  plotters ;  and  they  were  determined  not  only  that  Jesus 
should  die,  but  that  he  should  die  the  death  of  the  cross; 
because  that  Avas  a  death  combining  more  of  torture,  igno- 
miny and  shame  than  any  other.  Stoning  was  too  good 
for  him.  Besides,  it  was  their  plan  that  he  should  be 
judicially  executed  by  the  most  solemn  condemnation,  and 
by  the  sanction  of  the  governing  power;  that  greater  terror 
might  shock  all  who  were  disposed  to  be  his  disciples. 

AVhen  this  extraordinary  proposal  of  Pilate  was  declined, 
he  had  to  listen  to  fierce  and  rapid  accusations.  But  he 
heard  as  though  he  heard  them  not.  His  thoughts  were 
occupied  in  devising  some  escape  from  this  abhorred  affair ; 
and  incidentally  hearing  and  recognizing  the  word  Galilee 
repeated  in  their  invectives,  he  asked  whether  the  man  were 
a  Galilean.  And,  understanding  that  he  was,  he  eagerly 
grasped  at  the  prospect  of  relief.  Herod  was  himself  in 
Jerusalem  at  this  time,  the  liege  prince  of  the  prisoner. 
Pilate  had  shown  hi^a  no  civility,  had  not  even  recognized 
his  presence.  They  were  enemies ;  but  such  was  his  distress, 
that  he  sent  the  crowd  and  the  prisoner  to  him  as  one  of 
his  subjects.  He  was  greatly  relieved  by  the  opportunity 
of  so  doing,  and  flattered  himself  that  he  was  at  length  free 
from  the  resjionsibility  of  the  affair.  But  what  said  his  con- 
science, when  he  had  time  for  cool  reflection?  Had  he  done 
right  in  sending  one  whom  he  knew  to  be  innocent  to  a 
Herod?  Had  he  done  right  in  his  proposal  to  the  priests 
to  take  him  and  do  their  pleasure  with  him?  He  could  not 
certainly  feel  an  approving  conscience;  but  he  was  comforted 
in  being  clear  of  the  case. 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  315 

Herod  could  not  have  been  more  hio'hly  o-ratified  than  b}' 
this  very  thing.  He  interpreted  Pilate's  action  as  an  in- 
tended civility;  when  it  resulted  entirely  from  distress ;  and 
was  willino-  to  give  up  his  enmity,  and  be  reconciled  to  the 
governor.  The  murderer  of  John  the  Baptist  had  been  "de- 
sirous of  a  long  time  to  see  Jesus,  who  he  w^as."  He  had 
said:  "it  is  John,  whom  I  beheaded.  He  is  risen  from  the 
dead,  therefore  mighty  works  do  show  forth  themselves  in 
him.''  He  wished,  his  remorse  spoke  the  wash,  to  see  the 
features,  and  hear  the  voice  of  the  Nazarene,  and  to  ask 
many  questions  of  him ;  not  of  what  he  must  do  to  be 
saved;  but  questions  of  curiosity,  answers  to  which  might 
help  to  quiet  his  uneasy  conscience.  It  could  be  told  before- 
hand; that  he  would  receive  no  answer.  The  Savior 
"answered  him  to  never  a  word;''  nor  did  he  reply  to  the 
accusations  of  the  priests  and  scribes,  who  "stood  and 
vehemently  accused  him.''  He  stood. as  a  lamb  at  the  altar 
of  sacrifice. 

He  was  charged  as  being  the  Son  of  David,  and  King  bj^ 
right  and  of  divine  appointment.  Herod,  though  goaded 
by  the  appeals  of  the  accusers,  yet  shrank  from  enacting 
again  the  tragedy  of  blood.  It  cost  too  much  in  heartaches 
and  internal  wounds  again  to  sacrifice  an  innocent  man. 
He  at  first  offered  Jesus  immediate  release,  on  condition  of 
his  performing  one  miracle  then  and  there.  The  fact  that 
he  did  not  comply  convinced  Herod,  probably,  that  he  had 
not  the  powder,  or  that  he  would  deliver  himself  miracu- 
lously'. Piqued  and  mortified  by  the  continued  silence  of 
his  prisoner,  the  artful  "fox"  determined  to  abate  forever 
all  his  aspirations  to  royalty  by  the  most  crushing  ridi- 
cule; and  to  make  a  show  of  him  openly,  exposing  him  to 
the  foulest  derision.  The  plot  was  conceived  in  Herod's 
own  brain:  he  was  in  jovial  mood,  and  in  the  best  of  humor 
with  himself,  with  Pilate,  and  with  the  Jews.  By  his  order 
a  cast  off  robe  of  royalty  arrayed  the  would-be  king  and 
Herod  himself  and  his  men  of  war  paid  their  homage  on 
bended  knee.  He  thus  set  the  example,  which  the  soldiers 
of  Pilate  carried  out  so  brutall}'.  Herod  supposed  that 
this  would  be  a  termination  of  all  kingly  pretensions,  which 
could  not  survive  such  mockery,  and  likewise  relieve  him- 


316  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

self  from  additional  blood-guiltiness.  It  is  enough  to  know 
that  he  did  not  dare  to  condemn  him.  While  he  Avas  moved 
by  the  most  cruel  scorn,  he  was  yet  fearful  of  the  mysteri- 
ous being  before  him,  whom  he  supposed  to  have  some  in- 
explicable connection  with  John,  whom  he  had  beheaded. 
In  sending  the  accused  back  to  Pilate,  he  was  guilty  of 
gross  dereliction  of  duty,  in  abandoning  one,  whom  as  his 
prince,  he  was  bound  to  protect. 

Poor  Pilate!  He  dreaded  nothing  more  than  to  see  the 
returning  mob;  but  "he  was  determined  to  let  him  go."' 
He  had  spoken  but  one  word  to  his  prisoner:  had  asked 
him:  "art  thou  the  King  of  the  Jews?"  their  expected  Mes- 
siah? and  had  received  the  answer:  "thou  say  est  it"  I  am 
what  thou  sayest;  but  that  one  single  word  convinced  him. 
He  was  ready  to  pronounce  him  innocent.  While  Jesus  was 
silent  under  accusation,  as  he  had  been  to  the  mocking 
Herod,  he  answered  the  governor,  and  his  tone  and  aspect 
were  enough  to  convince.  Pilate  was  familar  with  the  ap- 
pearance of  guilt:  he  knew  all  its  characteristics.  This 
prisoner  was  silent,  not  from  stubbornness  for  he  answered 
honest  inquiries;  nor  from  fierce  contempt;  his  countenance 
bore  an  expression  of  the  most  hallowed  submission;  nor 
from  shame,  the  majesty  of  his  look  offended  Pilate,  and 
made  him  ask:  "am  I  a  Jew?"  He  answered  with  such 
dignity,  as  though  himself  the  judge,  and  Pilate  the  crimi- 
nal. He  was  like  no  other  prisoner  ever  arraigned  at  the 
Roman  bar.  Usually  a  criminal  was  cowering  with  shame, 
flushed  with  anger  against  his  accusers,  and  foward  to  vin- 
dicate himself  beyoiid  all  decorum.  How  different  the 
Nazarene!  He  wore  a  greater  majesty,  though  oppressed 
with  insult,  than  Cesar  on  the  throne  of  the  world.  It  was 
difficult  to  say  which  was  most  striking,  the  greatness  or 
the  submission  of  the  sufferer.  His  eye  had  a  tenderness 
in  it  sufficient  by  its  look  to  break  the  heart  of  Peter  till 
he  wept  hke  a  child ;  to  soften  the  crucified  malefactor  to 
genuine  repentance.  The  rugged  Roman  felt  his  heart  quail 
before  him.  The  formalties  of  modern  courts  did  not  obtain 
in  those  days.  The  power  of  decision  was  vested  in  one 
man  and  he  formed  his  judgment  of  guilt  or  innocence  very 
much  from  the  appearance  and  action  of  the  parties;  and 


CALA'ARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  317 

became  a  good  judge  and  interpreter  of  blame-worthiness 
and  guilt.  It  mattered  not  to  him  what  was  charged;  he 
knew  that  Jesus  was  innocent.  ''He  was  determined  to  let 
him  go."  With  such  convictions  he  met  the  assembly;  he 
faced  the  priests.  He  declared  openly  and  decidedly:  "I 
find  no  fault  in  him."  But  when  he  noted  the  vehemence 
of  their  accusations,  and  saw  the  deep  malignity  which  ac- 
tuated them,  he  next — 

n.  Made  every  possible  effort  to  release  him .  Forced  in 
spite  of  himself  to  try  the  case,  he  heard  what  was  laid 
against  him,  and  then  proposed:  "I  find  no  fault  in  this 
man:  I  will  therefore  chastise  him  and  let  him  go."  Strange 
justice:  ''I  find  no  fault  in  him;  I  will  therefore  chastise 
him."  He  yielded  to  do  violence  to  his  own  convictions;  that 
he  might  gratify  in  part  the  feelings  of  the  people,  in  the 
hope  that  their  sympathies  might  be  touched  in  behalf  of 
suffering  innocence.  A  compromise  with  sin  is  not  the 
means  of  withstanding  it.  But  Roman  scourging  was  very 
severe,  the  prototype  of  Russian  knouting,  and  could  easily 
be  infiicted  till  a  culprit  fainted.  At  Pilate's  command  the 
scourge  was  applied  to  the  delicate,  quivering  flesh.  "The 
ploughers  ploughed  upon  my  back,  and  made  long  their 
furrows."  It  was  grievous  to  the  judge  as  well  as  to  the 
sufferer;  but  it  did  not  waken  sympathy  as  Pilate  had 
hoped.  The  mob  was  not  so  easily  satisfied.  It  was  im- 
possible in  this  way  to  euHst  them  in  his  behalf.  Their  cries 
were  of  encouragement  to  the  punishers.  When  this  became 
apparent,  the  governor  had  recourse  lo  another  expedient. 

He  remembered  the  custom  to  release  unto  them  a  pris- 
oner at  this  yearly  feast.  He  took  advantage  of  this  cus- 
tom in  a  most  dexterous  manner.  His  wits  were  sharpened 
by  managing  men  in  troublous  times.  He  had  in  his  dun- 
geons several  prisoners  (of  whom  two  were  crucified  with 
Jesus)  of  minor  importance:  but  among  them  was  one 
man  notable  for  his  crimes.  He  was  an  enemy  to  the 
Roman  government:  a  traitor  and  a  murderer.  He  was 
notorious  as  a  criminal,  dreaded  by  the  people.  Releasing 
him  would  be  unchaining  a  tiger.  Such  a  prisoner  seldom 
falls  into  the  hands  of  justice,  without  considerable  effort 
and  expense.     He  richly  deserved  from  his  fellow-men  the 


318  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

utmost  rioor,  and  it  was  almost  treasonable  to  ask  his 
liberation.  Instead  of  allowing  the  choice  from  all  the 
criminals,  he  limited  them  to  Barabbas  and  Jesus.  Here 
he  discovered  great  sagacit3^  It  was  a  threat  as  it  were: 
consent  to  the  acquittal  of  the  Nazarene,  or  I  will  let  loose 
upon  you  the  dreaded  Barabbas. 

His  sagacit.y  appears  in  another  respect.  It  was  an  ap- 
peal from  the  priests,  with  whom  the  prosecution  of  Jesus 
\aj,  to  the  people.  If  this  prisoner  possesses  the  affections 
of  the  people,  as  is  reported,  if  some  of  his  friends  are  here, 
and  voices  are  raised  for  his  release,  though  in  the  minority, 
I  will  yet  release  him.  How-  ingenious  his  resources  in  this 
extremity!  He  never  for  a  moment  supposed,  but  that  he 
should  succeed  in  this.  The  people,  as  he  thought  shut 
up  to  this  alternative,  will  certainly  some  of  them  demand 
that  right  prevail.  Oh!  little  didst  thou  know,  0  Pilate, 
the  depth  of  that  feeling,  which  moved  the  hearts  of  all 
that  multitude  as  the  heart  of  one  man!  Called  upon  to 
select,  they  answer  with  one  voice:  "not  this  man;  but 
Barabbas."  The  cry  arose  first  from  the  high  priest  and 
his  fellows;  but  it  was  echoed  by  the  people,  and  that 
most  heartily.  The  voices  are  loud  and  eager;  and  there 
is  no  dissenting  cry.  Pilate  could  hardly  believe  his  own 
ears,  a,nd  to  test  their  feelings,  asked  again:  "What  shall 
I  then  do  with  Jesus,  who  is  called  the  Christ?"  The 
answer  came  with  energetic  readiness:  "Let  him  be  cruci- 
fied." What!  do  they  aSk  that  one  of  their  own  nation 
suffer  the  servile  depth  of  the  cross!  Pilate  might  have 
hesitated  to  inflict  it  upon  a  free  Jew,  for  fear  of  exci ting- 
insurrection.  They  demand  sentence  to  the  cross  against 
one  of  their  own  countrymen. 

Seeino-  at  once,  that  there  was  a  hatred  against  the  Naz- 
arene the  nature  of  which  he  did  not  understand,  and  the 
strength  of  which  he  had  altogether  misapprehended,  he 
again  asked:  "Why,  what  evil  hath  he  done?"  Let 
8ome  offense  be  proved ;  substantiate  some  accusation  ;  and 
force  not  condemnation  without  crime.  But  the  deafening- 
cry  arose  on  all  sides,  "Crucify  him!"  "Crucify  him."  He  saw, 
evidently,  that  if  he  was  released,  a  tumult  would  ensue 
instantly.    Indeed  the  assembly  had  lost  all  semblance  of 


CALVARY   AND  ITS  VICTIM,  319 

reason.  His  honest  statement,  that  he  found  no  fault  in 
him,  his  reasonable  demand  for  some  fixed  accusation  were 
drowned  in  a  furious  call  for  his  death.  In  the  midst  of 
the  disorder  the  priests,  casting  to  the  winds  all  their 
former  charges,  announced  to  Pilate  their  real  reason  for 
putting  him  to  death:  "We  have  a  law;  and  by  our  law 
he  ought  to  die;  because  he  made  himself  the  son  of  God." 
Pilate's  agitation  was  intensified  by  this  news. 

He  seems  from  the  history  to  have  been  in  a  most  pain- 
ful state  of  feeling ;  to  have  gone  in  to  where  he  had  taken 
Jesus,  and  come  out :  to  have  put  questions  to  his  prisoner, 
and  not  to  have  waited  for  answer.  It  had  been  easy  to  escape 
from  this  distress.  Had  he  said  with  decision,  touch  a  hair  of 
this  man's  head,  and  it  will  be  over  me;  I  protect  him. 
Let  insurrection  come;  he  shall  not  be  harmed  ;  peace  would 
have  immediately^  returned  to  his  breast.  He  had  already 
set  him  up  with  Barabbas;  what  right  had  he  thus  to  ex- 
pose an  innocent  man?  Man?  aye,  more  than  man.  Look 
at  that  countenance  and  tremble, 

Pilate  had  committed  himself  already;  he  had  permitted 
the  people  to  choose.  After  irresolute  delay  and  irrepress- 
ible agitation,  he  ascends  the  judgment  seat.  It  is  evident 
that  the  crowd  cannot  be  cajoled  or  managed ;  that  they 
thirst  for  blood.  He  is  about  to  give  sentence,  that  it 
should  be  as  they  required ;  but  another  circumstance 
occurs.  His  wife,  from  sickness  or  weakness,  has  been  asleep 
since  himself  arose;  and  has  awaked  in  fright,  and  with 
wringing  hands  is  seeking  her  husband.  Unable  to  adven- 
ture through  the  fierce  crowd,  she  has  sent  a  messenger  to 
say  from  her;  "see  thou,  have  nothing  to  do  with  that  just 
man;  for  I  have  suffered  many  things  this  day  in  a  dream 
because  of  him."  The  dreadful  future  before  her  had  been 
opened  to  her  view.    The  vision  had  awaked  her  in  terror. 

This  message  raised  his  anxiet}"  to  the  greatest  height. 
The  people  in  angry  clamor,  excited  to  the  verge  of  tumult, 
demanded  the  death  of  the  son  of  God ;  his  own  conscience 
and  the  divine  warning  through  his  wife,  made  him  hesitate. 
Could  he  but  have  had  the  courage  to  do  right!  After  an 
agonized  pause  he  sends  for  water;  and  waits  downcast 
until  it  is  brought.    Rising  to  attract  universal  attention, 


320  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

he  solemnly  washes  his  hands,  and  says  in  a  loud  voice: 
"I  am  innocent  of  the  blood  of  this  just  person;  see  ye  to 
it."  The  people  were  ready  with  the  response :  "His  blood 
be  on  us  and  on  our  children/'  Was  Pilate  clear?  Did  the 
water  wash  away  the  stain  of  blood?  This  was  the  hour 
of  his  hfe,  the  decision  of  an  eternal  destiny.  The  history  of 
the  Jewish  people  has  for  two  thousand  years  been  colored 
with  blood  from  this  hour. 

III.  He  gave  sentence,  that  it  should  be  as  the\'  required; 
not  as  justice  required,  and  God  had  w^arned  :  but  as  they  re- 
quired. The  word  has  gone  out  of  his  mouth ;  the  case  is  ter- 
minated: the  soldiers  immediately  took  possession  of  the 
prisoner,  and  led  him  into  their  hall,  and  by  trumpet  call  sum- 
moned the  whole  band.  Here  they  stripped  him  of  his  clothing, 
arrayed  him  in  a  worn-out  royal  robe,  put  a  sceptre  of  reed 
into  his  hand,  and,  to  make  his  appearance  as  a  king  com- 
plete, wove  a  crown  of  thorns,  mature  in  Judea  at  this 
season,  and  put  it  on  his  head.  They  knelt  before  him 
thus  arrayed,  saying  "hail,  king  of  the  Jews,"  and  smote 
him  with  the  reed  upon  his  head,  and  spit  upon  him.  A 
crown  of  weeds  had  been  insulting;  a  crown  of  thorns 
driven  deep  into  his  temples  suited  them  better. 

During  this  cruel  mockery,  Pilate  had  occasion  to  pass 
through  the  hall,  and  seeing  the  meek  and  unresisting  suf- 
ferer, anointed  with  his  own  trickling  blood ;  and  the  gall- 
ing ridicule  with  which  he  was  being  treated,  felt  his  sym- 
pathies much  moved  ;  and  thinking  the  people  will  certainly 
relent  in  their  savage  course,  could  they  but  behold  him 
as  I  do  now ;  he  led  him  forth  into  the  open  portico,  where 
he  could  be  seen  by  all,  and  said:  "Behold  the  man,"  "Be- 
hold I  bring  him  forth  to  you ;  that  ye  may  know  that  I 
find  in  him  no  fault  at  all,"  "Behold  your  king."  But  the 
sight  only  inflamed  the  multitude  the  more.  The  cry  rose 
fiercer  than  before,-  "Away  with  him  :  crucify  him.  We  have 
no  king  but  Csesar."  "Whosoever  maketh  himself  a  king 
speaketh  against  Caesar ;  if  thou  let  this  man  go,  thou  art 
not   Caesar's  friend."    Their  hatred  knew  no  pity. 

IV.  After  having  passed  sentence  of  condemnation,  and 
afterwards  sought  to  rescind  it,  Pilate  shows  his  reluctance 
in  this  proceeding  by  proposing:   "take  ye  him,  and  crucify 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  321 

him."  I  have  consented  to  his  death;  the  warrant  for  his 
execution  shall  be  signed  with  the  seal  of  Rome ;  but  at  least 
suffer  me  to  have  no  participation  in  the  murder.  Let  no 
soldier  or  servant  of  mine  be  employed  in  this  hateful  busi- 
ness. Take  ye  him ;  use  your  own  officers  and  men  in  this 
affair,  and  compel  me  not  further.  Ah!  Pilate  the  water 
waslied  thy  hands;  but  not  thy  conscience.  Thou  hast 
gone  too  far  to  retreat.  Having  yielded  in  the  beginning; 
vain  is  it  to  expect  to  retract  now.  The  enemies  of  Jesus 
were  resolved  that  he  should  die  under  all  the  solemnities 
of  a  public  execution ;  Pilate's  assistance  was  indispensable. 
Roman  power,  as  well  as  Jewish  hate,  must  move  in  har- 
mony against  him.  Pilate  had  hesitated,  begged  and 
maneuvered  in  vain.  Dreadful  had  been  the  struggle  through 
which  he  had  passed. 

During  the  trial  Pilate  from  time  to  time  conversed  with 
his  prisoner.  He  heard  him  calmly  declare  that  he  was  a 
King;  that  his  kingdom  was  not  a  worldly  kingdom ;  that 
they  who  loved  and  followed  the  truth  were  his  subjects.  When 
Pilate  marvelled  greatly  at  his  silence,  and  demanded  of 
him,  "hearest  thou  not?"  "Speakest  thou  not  to  me?" 
^'Knowest  thou  not  that  I  have  power  to  crucify  thee,  and 
power  to  release  thee?"  thus  confessing  his  own  responsi- 
bility, our  Lord  gave  him  fully  to  understand  that  he  had 
no  power  against  him,  further  than  it  was  allowed  from  on 
high.  "Therefore  he  that  delivered  me  unto  you,"  the  high 
priest,  "hath  the  greater  sin;"  even  finding  some  kind  of 
apology  for  the  governor's  conduct. 

At  several  times  before  his  condemnation,  Pilate  addressed 
him;  but  after  the  decisive  word  of  doom,  he  spake  no  more 
with  him,.  He  had  learned  more  of  truth,  and  virtue,  and 
duty  than  in  all  his  life  before.  His  whole  previous  experi- 
ence was  nothing,  compared  with  the  interest  and  impres- 
sion of  that  morning,  loaded  with  events  of  everlasting  im- 
port. He  had  often  condemned  prisoners  without  compunc- 
tion: at  this  trial  pangs  unfelt  before  had  seized  him.  The 
noble  and  the  vulgar  had  been  arraigned  before  him,  the 
wealthy  and  the  outcast,  Gentile  and  Jew ;  but  never  such 


—21 


322  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE, 

a  being.  The  veiy  sight  of  his  mysterious  submission  had 
awed  his  inmost  soul;  as  well  as  stirred  in  him  an  inde- 
scribable compassion. 

The  sequel  of  Pilate's  life  is  clothed  with  a  mournful  in- 
terest. He  was  forever  soured  against  those  who  had 
compelled  him  to  the  most  nefarious  and  hated  deed  of 
his  life.  When  the  priests  remonstrated  against  the  in- 
scription upon  the  cross,  his  answer  conveys  his  feeling, 
"what  1  have  written,  I  have  written."  From  this  time 
there  was  continual  misunderstanding  and  contention 
between  him,  and  the  guilty  rulers  of  the  Jews;  until  on 
complaint  made  to  Rome,  he  was  removed  from  the  pro- 
vince of  Judea.  After  this  memorable  day,  he  seems  never 
to  have  known  peace :  he  could  never  efface  from  his  mem- 
ory the  image  of  the  patient  sufferer,  who  cast  himself  on 
him  for  protection,  and  found  it  not.  Life  soon  became  a 
weariness;   and  his  wife's  vision  was  fulfilled  in  his  suicide. 

Who  can  but  be  moved  with  pity  for  poor  Pilate!  but 
many  still  follow  his  example.  Many  now  sell  Christ  for 
less  than  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  perhaps.  Many  deny  him 
as  Peter  did.  Many  renounce  him  for  fear  of  man,  as  Pilate 
did.    Eternal  destinies  are  still  often  decided  in  a  single  day. 

Why  did  the  Jews  so  hate  the  man  of  Nazareth?  Look 
at  the  accusations  brought  against  him.  Was  it  because 
he  forbade  paying  tribute  to  Ctesar?  No.  Was  it  because 
he  made  himself  a  King?  They  would  willingly  follow  such 
a  Messiah.  They  were  waiting  for  just  such  an  one  to  ap- 
pear. Was  it  because  he  made  himself  the  Son  of  God? 
No.  This  Tiberius  Cesar,  to  whom  they  were  so  loyal,  was 
not  only  an  idolater,  but  had  himself  worshipped  as  a  God. 
After  a  short  time,  his  successor  attempted  to  force  his 
own  image  into  the  temple  at  Jerusalem  to  receive  divine 
honors  there.  It  was  not  the  honor  of  Jehovah  for  which 
they  were  so  jealous.  No.  The  reason  of  their  hatred  was 
simply  this.  He  was  the  Son  of  God.  His  w^orks,  his  teach- 
ing, his  life,  his  whole  belongings  incontestably  showed  it; 
and  they  knew  it.  Their  subsequent  history  shows  that 
they  knew  it;  yet  could  never  acknowledge  the  truth. 


CALVARY   AND   ITS    VICTIM.  323 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


INNOCENCE  OF  JESUS. 


Part  I. — Ix  Contrast  avith  Men. 

It  is  the  perfect  innocence  of  Jesus,  that  not  only  invests 
his  whole  history  with  an  irresistible  charm,  but  lends  sub- 
duing power  to  the  story  of  his  unparalleled  sorrows.  If 
his  entire  harmlessness  merel}',  though  this  is  but  a  nega- 
tive characteristic,  can  be  realized,  a  new  pathos  is  felt  in 
every  scene  of  his  life.  An  affecting  view  of  this  is  not  so 
easih'  obtained,  as  of  the  more  obvious  points  of  his  ca- 
reer. Moral  beauty  men  are  more  slow  in  perceiving.  Yet 
his  work  can  never  be  appreciated  but  by  them,  who  gain 
a  realizing  view  of  the  supreme  holiness  of  his  character, 
outshining  the  splendor  of  his  mighty  works,  as  the  sun 
extinguishes  the  petty  lights  of  the  sky.  An  indescribable 
and  overwhelming  elevation  of  unsullied  purity  in  him, 
made  a  deeper  impression  on  beholders,  than  all  the  at- 
tendant wonders  which  drew  the  gaze  of  the  curious.  The 
present  object  is  to  substantiate  and  impress : 

I.  The  immaculate  spotlessness  of  his  character,  and  the 
striking  innocence  of  his  life:  and  this  by  the  following 
considerations : 

1.  His  conception  was  out  of  the  common  course  of 
nature. 

Much  infidel  blasphemy  has  been  uttered  about  the  man- 
ner of  his  conception  and  birth :  and  those  have  been  found, 
who  have  rejeoted  the  gospel  on  this  account:  claiming, 
that  blame  could  not  attach  to  them  for  not  discovering 
a  Savior  coming  into  the  world  as  a  child  of  infamy.  The 
singularity  of  his  life  is  a  sufficient  refutation  of  all  such 
scandals.  It  was  necessary-  that  he  should  be  introduced 
into  the  race ;  and  be  a  man  in  the  fullest  sense,  in  body 
and  soul.  Prophecy  had,  from  the  beginning,  announced 
him,  as  "the  seed   of  the  woman'"  without  human  father. 


324  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

There  is  a  propriety  of  his  being  born  of  a  virgin,  and  of 
a  virgin  espoused  and  not  3'et  married;  and  in  fact  of  ever\" 
circumstance  in  the  Scripture  account.  By  this  peculiar 
management,  he  escaped  altogether  the  taint  of  original 
sin.  The  body  of  the  babe,  made  of  the  flesh  and  blood  of 
Mary,  was  "that  holy  thing;"  and  to  the  end  it  remained 
"that  holy  thing."  John  the  Baptist  was  "sanctified  from 
the  womb;"  but  Jesus  needed  no  such  sanctification.  The 
poison  of  apostasy,  communicated  in  ordinary  descent,  had 
never  infected  him.  He  was  "separate  from  sinners,"  by 
his  birth,  as  well  as  by  his  exalted  nature. 

2.  The  testimony  of  the  Scripture  on  this  point  is  very 
express.  He  is  "the  holy  one  of  God,"  "that  just  one," 
"the  most  holy,"  or  as  the  Hebrew  reads,  "the  Holy  of 
Holies."  He  forms  a  class  by  himself,  which  can  include  no 
other.  Angels  are  holy,  but  they  are  mutably  so.  He  is 
immutably  holj.  An  impassable  gulf  lies  between  him  and 
all  others.  "  He  is  of  purer  eyes  than  to  look  upon  sin,  and 
he  does  not  behold  iniquity."  There  are  sights  from  which 
men  turn  away  sick  at  heart:  Jesus  does  not  look  upon 
sin.  "The  heavens  are  unclean  in  his  sight ;  and  he  chargeth 
his  angels  with  folly."  Before  the  terrors  of  his  holy  eye, 
this  earth  and  sky,  tainted  by  sin,  will  flee  aw-ay;  and  no 
place  be  found  for  them.  He  came  to  this  earth  stripped 
of  all  the  terrors  of  judgment;  but  the  divine  holiness  mani- 
fested itself  in  as  distinct  and  shining  glory  as  did  the  di- 
vine power  and  wisdom:  all  beholders  confessed  volunta- 
rily or  involuntarily,  not  merely  the  spotlessness  of  his 
life;  but  his  more  than  celestial  inward  purity.  The  fire, 
that  shall  ultimately  wither  transgressors,  burned  in  his 
eye. 

3.  The  fear  of  the  people  showed  the  same.  There  was 
no  severity  about  him  to  inspire  dread ;  even  his  anger  is 
said  to  have  been  grief.  Compassion  beamed  from  his 
countenance;  gentleness  spoke  in  his  voice;  yet  there  was 
something  about  him  that  begat  awe  in  every  beholder. 
His  miracles  wei-e  all  works  of  mercy;  his  words  were  all 
utterances  of  love;  j^et  there  was  a  fear  of  him  which  inti- 
macy could  not  remove.  The  strange  prayer  of  Peter: 
"Depart  from  me;    for  I  am  a  sinful   man,  0  Lord,"  has 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  325 

been  the  unspoken  ciy  of  thousands  of  hearts  since.  The 
officers,  sent  once  to  take  him,  feared  to  lay  hands  on  him, 
paralyzed  by  his  words.  Their  superiors  rebuked  their  lack 
of  nerve;  but  themselves  afterwards  durst  not  ask  him  any 
question.  At  several  times  he  was  threatened  with  stones; 
but  none  were  ever  thrown.  After  one  of  his  kindest  mira- 
cles in  Capernaum,  it  is  said:  "They  (the  people)  were 
filled  with  fear."  Lu.  v:  26.  The  Gadarenes  "were  taken 
with  o-reat  fear,"  though  the  miracle  just  wrought  among 
them  was  one  of  the  most  merciful.  The  fear  of  his  inti- 
mate disciples  increased  to  the  very  last. 

4.  His  patience  under  the  provocation  of  his  enemies  is 
proof  of  it.  By  no  other  on  earth  were  such  trials  met. 
"They  hated  him  without  a  cause."  Righteous  Abel  wan 
hated  by  his  brother;  but  Abel  was  a  sinner,  and  had  glar- 
ing faults  doubtless.  In  the  best  of  men  there  is  enough  to 
hate.  David  was  hated ;  but  there  was  cause  for  censure. 
Daniel  was  hated ;  but  Daniel  was  not  perfect ;  perhaps 
there  was  in  him  at  times  a  bitterness  of  feeling  toward 
the  oppressors  of  his  people.  Jesus  Christ  was  hated  "with- 
out a  cause."  The  tenderest  love  provoked  only  hatred. 
Nothing  do  men  hate  more  than  a  reprover.  He  felt  their 
hatred.  All  the  crimes  that  could  disgrace  a  mortal,  were 
not  punished  as  the  holiness  of  Jesus  was.  The  world  fell 
upon  him  with  a  fiercer  vengeance  than  moved  Cain  against 
Abel. 

The  feelings  of  the  Jewish  rulers  were  so  vindictive  that 
sleep  fled  from  their  eyes.  Jerusalem  was  in  an  uproar 
during  the  alloted  hours  of  repose,  animated  by  the  same 
purpose  as  the  infernal  conclave  sitting  at  the  same  time 
below.  The  story  of  the  cruel  insults  and  horrid  sufferings, 
which  he  had  to  endure,  is  often  told,  but  seldom  realized. 
At  a  moment,  when  he  seemed  not  to  have  a  friend  on 
earth;  when  the  malice  of  the  Sanhedriu  was  at  its  highest 
pitch;  and  the  twelve  had  forsaken  him,  and  the  foremost 
of  them  was  denying  with  curses  that  he  had  ever  known 
him ;  the  victim  meekh'  raised  his  head  and  looked  on  the 
gathered  crowd.  His  eye  fell  upon  Peter  in  the  midst  of 
his  denial,  and  there  was  such  an  unearthly  kindness  and 
pity  in  its  look  that  it  overwhelmed  the  guilty  apostle.  In 


326  THE  GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

haste  he  fled,  and  covered  his  face,  scarce  able  to  refrain 
himself  till  he  reached  the  porch.  The  same  eye  looked  on 
the  reviling  priests ;  it  had  poured  out  tears  over  them  on 
Olivet.    How  he  looked  ! 

follow  him  to  the  cross.  Perhaps  the  moment,  when 
rage  and  spite  were  at  their  height,  was  when  he  was 
nailed  to  the  wood.  The  king  of  Israel  cannot  deliver 
himself;  he,  who  claimed  equality-  with  God,  is  shown  to  be 
impotent.  The  loudest  fiercest  triumph  was  then ;  the  most 
savage  derision,  He  was  spurned  as  he  laj^  defenceless,  quiv- 
ering in  every  limb.  The  spitting  was  doubtless  renewed,  and 
perhaps  unhallowed  feet  smote  deeper  in  the  piercing  thorns, 
or  trampled  the  prostrate  form.  The  voice,  that  will  one  day 
shake  the  earth  and  sky,  spoke.  The  submission  and  kind- 
ness of  its  tone  was  enough  to  subdue  a  heart  of  adamant. 
It  was  to  pray :  ''Father,  forgive  them  ;  they  know  not  what 
they  do."  It  was  not  an  empty  wish;  but  the  deep  yearn- 
ing of  his  heart.  It  was  heard  on  high,  and  secured  the  for- 
giveness and  salvation  of  these  enemies;  not  of  those  among 
them,  who  had  committed  the  unpardonable  sin;  but  of  all 
that  reviling  croAvd,  who  had  not  put  themselves  bej^ond 
mercy's  reach.  He  remembered  them,  when  he  ascended; 
and  for  their  sakes  commanded  his  apostles  to  "begin  at 
Jerusalem."  At  that  moment  the  sin  and  self-ruin  of  his 
murderers  grieved  him  more  than  the  torment  of  the  cross. 
0!  infinite  love!  The  tenderest  human  heart  is  adamant 
compared  with  thine. 

He  was  called  to  endure  every  species  of  suffering  that 
man  could  inflict:  aad  it  seems  to  have  been  the  determi- 
nation of  his  foes  to  overcome  his  meekness  if  possible ; 
and  extort  some  angry  railing :  (it  was  usual  to  hear  from 
the  crucified  the  most  fearful  curses  and  imprecations.)  To 
this  end  their  efforts  were  directed;  and  for  this  they  per- 
severed in  a^ttendance  around  him:  but  in  vain.  They 
could  as  soon  have  shaken  down  the  throne  of  God,  or 
blotted  tha  eternal  out  of  being.  His  everlasting  love  was 
incapable  of  increase;  but  as  man  his  sympathies  onlj^ 
moved  more  intensely  in  their  behalf.  Had  anything  been 
able  to  destroy  or  abate  the  love,  which  Christ  bore  to 
men,  the  treatment  he  received  on  earth  had  done  it :   but 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM,  327 

it  was  stronger  than  death  and  more  insatiable  than  the 
^rave.  Waters  did  not  quench  it,  nor  floods  poured  upon 
it  drown  it. 

5.  His  innocence  is  read  in  the  feelings  of  Judas  his  be- 
trayer. In  a  season  of  exasperation,  Judas  had  agreed  to 
betray  his  master ;  but  he  never  believed  that  he  would  die. 
When  he  saw  him  unresisting,  condemned;  and  beheld  the 
frenzy  of  the  people  against  him,  the  sunlight  evidence  of 
his  Lord's  divinity  came  back  with  overpowering  force  to 
his  memory.  It  mattered  not  that  men  applauded  his 
deed  :  his  conscience  was  aroused  never  to  be  quieted  again. 
He  saw  nothing,  he  heard  nothing;  he  thought  of  noth- 
ing else.  The  image  of  his  Master  condemned  to  die  re- 
vived the  remembrance  of  his  predictions.  He  rested  not 
a  moment :  he  rushed  to  the  temple  to  cast  away  the  price 
of  innocent  blood;  he  could  not  be  absent  from  the  judg- 
ment hall,  nor  from  Calvary.  How  long  he  endured  his 
agony  is  not  known.  Despair  too  deep  for  tears  sat  upon 
his  brow;  groans  from  a  lost  spirit  issued  from  his  bosom. 
Eemorse  would  in  time  have  killed  him :  he  no  longer 
shrinks  from  crime:  he  cannot  live  to  see  his  victim  exe- 
cuted. If  he  beheld  the  frowning  heavens  and  the  tremb- 
ling ground,  a  deeper  darkness  gathered  in  upon  his  spirit, 
and  it  quaked  with  a  direr  dread.  The  crime,  which  is 
usually  committed  after  months  of  previous  torture,  was 
by  him  decided  on  in  a  few  hours.  Judas  knew  his  Master 
to  be  not  only  innocent:  he  knew  him  to  be  divine. 
Stronger  testimony  to  truth  was  never  left. 

6.  The  innocence  of  Jesus  is  proclaimed  by  the  feelings  of 
Pilate.  Pilate's  guilt  was  not  so  glaring  as  that  of  Judas. 
He  had  not  been  an  intimate  companion  of  the  Nazarene. 
He  could  flatter  himself  with  the  remembrance  that  he 
had  endeavored  to  his  utmost  to  deliver  his  prisoner.  But 
to  see  Jesus  was  enough  to  convince  the  dying  thief  of  his 
divinity:  and  it  was  enough  for  Pilate.  He  hardly  needed 
the  heavenly  admonition  through  his  wife.  How  studiously 
he  sought  to  convince  himself  that  he  was  not  blame- 
worthy in  the  matter;  that  he  was  overborne  by  violence 
and  had  protested  against  the  act  even  after  compliance. 
He  found  that  there  was  no  room  in  his  memory  for  any- 


328  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

thino-  but  the  calm  and  holy  sufferer  of  that  dreadful  day. 
Care  and  business  and  pleasure  were  unable  to  banish  the 
image  of  the  Nazarene.  He  remembered  how  he  had  cast 
himself  for  protection  on  the  judge  and  not  found  it.  Though 
Pilate  may  have  said  little,  yet  he  was  an  altered  man.  To 
the  Jews  he  became  fierce  and  implacable:  in  his  ordinary 
behavior  sour  and  morose.  The  play  of  hell  fire  w^as  visible 
in  his  before  quiet  eye.  Like  Judas,  he  became  a  suicided 
though  remorse  did  its  work  more  slowly. 

7.  The  innocence  of  Jesus  is  proved  by  the  changed 
character  of  the  Jewish  nation.  The  history  of  the  Jewish 
nation  from  this  date  is  the  history  of  raving  madmen. 
They  had  previously  been  quite  remarkable  for  loyalty  and 
faithfulness  to  treaties.  Their  national  character  underwent 
a  change  from  this  period  on.  They  were  ready  to  welcome 
false  Christs,  whose  appearance  showed,  that  they  under- 
stood that  the  divinely  announced  time  for  the  advent  of  the 
true  Christ  had  come;  according  to  the  unmistakable  pre- 
dictions of  their  own  scriptures.  They  seemed  to  be  inwardly 
convinced  that  the  expected  king  had  been  rejected;  and  they 
,were  therefore  read^^  to  grasp  at  the  most  forlorn  shadow 
of  anything,  that  could  possibly  turn  out  to  be  a  Messiah 
to  them.  Their  conduct  shows  as  plainly  as  that  of  Judas 
and  Pilate,  that  they  were  aware  of  the  fact,  which  yet  no 
tongue  must  utter,  that  their  predicted  Savior  had  been 
rejected  and  crucified.  In  another  respect  they  resembled 
Judas  and  Pilate:  they  flinched  from  no  crime  whatever. 
The  atmosphere  they  breathed  was  infernal.  Their  national 
existence  for  the  few  ;  remaining  years,  was  but  one  scene 
of  crime,  at  which  even  heathen  shuddered.  The  most  des- 
perate enormities,  the  most  hellish  dissensions,  the  most 
heaven-daring  obduracy,  infatuation  and  madness,  the  dis- 
tant sight  of  which  makes  the  blood  run  cold,  make  up 
the  last  chapter  of  their  history.  None  would  acknowledge 
it;  but  they  seem  to  have  known  that  the  blood  of  inno- 
cence was  "on  them  and  on  their  children." 

8.  It  is  shown  by  the  miserable  end  to  which  his  perse- 
cutors came.  Judas  became  a  spectacle  to  all  the  attend- 
ants at  the  feast.  Agitated  to  that  degree,  that  he  could 
not  accomplish  a  sure  and  decent  suicide,  he  fell  headlong 


CALVARY   AND   ITS   VICTIM.  329 

and  burst  asunder  in  the  midst;  and  all  his  bowels  gushed 
out.  He  added  another  to  the  horrors  of  the  awful  day 
of  Christ's  death.  Multitudes  saw  him:  and  the  ghastly 
countenance,  marked  with  the  impress  of  despair,  seemed 
more  dread  than  even  his  disgusting  body.  He  fixed  his 
name  upon  the  gloomy  spot,  cut  up  as  it  was  by  the  holes 
of  a  potter's  excavations.  No  one  would  own  the  haunted 
place;  and  though  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Jerusalem, 
the  field  was  sold  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  and  would  not 
then  have  found  a  purchaser,  had  it  not  been  for  the  fearful 
thirty  pieces,  of  which  the  priests  wished  to  dispose.  And 
then  it  became  a  place  to  bury  friendless  strangers  in ;  and 
no  dead  body  was  there  interred,  in  whose  favor  a  voice 
was  left  to  remonstrate. 

Pilate  came  to  his  miserable  end  more  slowly,  but  by  just 
as  steady  a  progress  as  Judas.  And  what  tongue  can  tell 
the  calamities,  that  have  befallen  the  Jewish  people?  The 
idolatry  of  their  fathers,  and  the  murder  of  the  prophets 
were  punished  by  a  seventy  years'  captivity;  but  the  death 
of  Christ  by  a  whirlwind  of  Avrath  which  destroys  still.  If 
the  children  of  that  people  are  followed  for  two  thousand 
years  by  the  unrelenting  judgments  of  heaven ;  O !  what 
has  befallen  the  guilty  perpetrators  of  the  crime,  long  since 
gone  to  their  account !  Good  God,  "who  knoweth  the  power 
of  thine  anger?"  Let  it  not  ''beat  upon  our  naked  souls  in 
one  eternal  storm."  All  who  opposed  Jesus  wrecked  their 
own  moral  nature,  hardened  themselves  into  fiends,  and 
dug  their  own  graves. 

9.  Jesus  never  confessed  sin.  The  holiest  men  have  been 
fullCvSt  and  most  constant  in  the  confession  of  guilt.  If 
prayers  have  been  answered,  it  has  only  been  when  the  sup- 
pliants have  made  no  reserve;  but  bewailed  themselves  as 
the  chief  of  sinners.  In  the  solemn  hour  of  near  approach 
to  God,  the,v  have  bowed  far  lower  than  the  dust.  No 
other  prayers  have  been  answered ;  but  such  as  have  been 
offered  from  hearts  broken  by  a  sense  of  personal  guilt. 
The  prayers  of  Jesus  were  alwa^^s  heard,  and  received  im- 
mediate answer;  but  in  them  he  makes  no  mention  of  sin, 
original  or  actual.  He  comes  before  the  burning  throne  in 
his  own  name,  bringing  no  atoning  blood  for  himself;  and 


330  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

heaven  bows  to  his  petition.  He  comes  as  the  beloved  son, 
in  everything  about  whom,  the  Father  "is  well  pleased," 
and  whose  lightest  wish  heaven  longs  to  gratify. 

II.    God  would  never  permit  a  holy  being  to  suffer.     It 
is  contrary  to  ever^'  attribute  of  his  nature  to  do  so.  His 
people  on  earth  are  a  sinful  people;  yet  are  they  power- 
fully defended  from  every  unnecessary  pain.     Chariots  of 
fire    and    horses    of   fire  surround    them.     Angels    encamp 
about    them.     God's  providence  is    a.  hedge  about  them; 
and  however  much  their  enemies,  worldly  and  spiritual,  de- 
sire their  harm,  their  rage  is  utterly  powerless.    Satan  may 
desire  to  sift  them  as  wheat;  but  he  can  neither  touch  a  hair 
of  their  heads,  nor  disturb  their  inward  peace  for  a  moment. 
If  affliction  were  not  better  for  them  than  rejoicing,  God 
would  never  allow  them  to  experience  it.    Sanctification  is 
perfected    only   through    suffering.    Submission    can   never 
have  its  perfect  work  without  sorrows.    In  unbroken  pros- 
perity, tears  of  repentance    would    soon    cease  to  fall,  and 
the  dust  of  humility  would    soon    be   forsaken.    God  must 
needs  afflict;  and  his  love  was  not  more  tender  when  Christ 
died  for  our  sins,  than  when  he  smites  with  the  rod  of  his 
chastisement.    Grief  is    absoluteh^    needed  for  our  purifica- 
tion;  and  God  consents  to  it    as  a  dire  necessity.    "Our 
inbred  sins  require  our  flesh    to    see    the    dust.''    But  how 
seldom  God  afflicts.     "His  strokes  are  fewer  than  our  sins, 
and   lighter   than   our   guilt.''    Like   a   tender   parent,  he 
hides  his  face  in  order    to    strike    the    children  of  his  love: 
and  when  tears  begin  to  flow,  he  counts  them  as  they  fall ; 
he  treasures  them  in  his  bottle ;  he   turns  away  his  anger, 
and  stirs  not  up  all  his    wrath ;   he    permits    them  not   to 
faint  under  the  blow  of  his  hand;   but  administers  the  rich 
and  reviving  cordials  of  his  covenant    to  sustain  the  sink- 
ing spirit. 

Even  in  the  suffering  of  the  lost  he  has  no  pleasure, 
tears  of  bleeding  pity  fell  from  the  eyes  of  Christ  over  the 
obduracy  of  those  who  most  richly  merited  the  doom  that 
came  upon  them.  He  slowly  and  reluctantly  gives  up  the 
most  hardened,  and  does  not  "willingly  afflict  nor  grieve 
the  children  of  men." 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  331 

Wheii  the  necessity  of  suffering-  by  his  people  ceases  to 
exist,  and  the  work  of  sanctification  is  completed,  and 
their  spirits  are  received  into  heaven,  sorrow  and  sig-hing 
will  be  known  by  them  no  more.  All  tears  will  be  eternally 
wiped  away;  all  occasion  of  tears  will  be  forever  removed. 
As  soon  will  the  throne  of  the  eternal  totter  to  its  fall, 
as  another  tear  rise  to  the  ransomed  eye.  The  walls  and 
gates  of  heaven  exclude  everything  that  offends.  Sin  and 
sorrow  must  batter  down  the  impregnable  walls,  before 
they  can  enter:  they  must  strike  through  the  protecting 
bosom  of  the  redeemer,  before  they  can  reach  the  meanest 
inhabitant  of  that  happy  place.  In  that  world  they  know 
good;  but  they  know  not  evil.  It  would  be  contrary  to 
the  whole  character  of  Jehovah  to  permit  a  pang,  where 
sin  unsubdued  no  longer  makes  it  necessary.  God  has 
shown  that  he  would  sooner  submit  to  suffering  himself, 
than  see  his  people  experience  it.  He  defends  them  by 
himself  as  their  shield.  Easier  were  it  for  the  sun  to  shed 
cold  and  ice,  than  for  Jehovah  to  inflict  suffering.  Sinless 
angels  have  never  known  it,  and  never  will  while  they 
have  beina;.  God  would  as  readily  tempt  to  sin,  as  oppress 
with  suffering.  The  radiant  realm  of  glory  is  never  darkened 
by  a  shade  of  misery. 

III.  Such  being  the  revealed  character  of  Jehovah,  what 
an  anomaly  are  the  sufferings  of  Christ  1  If  he  is  so  tender 
of  a  creature,  and  so  sparing  of  affliction,  how  can  his 
love  for  his  only  begotten  son  be  declared?  and  how  can 
the  agonies  of  Christ,  inflicted  by  the  Father's  hand  be  ex- 
plained? Why  did  he  deal  so  terribly  with  the  son  of  his 
love?  God  permitted  him  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  evil 
men.  Jesus  not  only  declined  delivering  himself;  the  right- 
eous Father  withdrew  his  protection.  As  one  cast  into  a 
den  of  lions,  or  a  cage  of  vipers,  would  be  immediately 
beset,  and  every  fang  would  at  once  be  buried  in  his  flesh ; 
so  Christ  met  the  rage  of  an  evil  world.  They  had  been 
for  a  time  restrained  by  fear  of  him,  and  by  the  venera- 
tion which  even  the  wicked  have  for  goodness;  but  delay 
only  made  them  more  cruel  in  their  hour  of  triumph.  God 
spared  him  not  from  any  insult.  No  exception  was  made 
from  all  the  torments  and  indignities  in  the  power  of  man 


332  THE   CHfEAT   SACRIFICE. 

to  inflict.  And  never  were  the  wits  of  men  more  acute  to 
devise  evil,  nor  their  malice  more  provoked.  Martyrs  have 
died ;  prophets  and  apostles  have  been  slain ;  but  Jesus 
Christ  has  a  preeminence  in  suffering,  beyond  all  that  ever 
wept,  and  bled,  and  died  on  earth. 

God  also  let  loose  against  him  the  raging  flends  of  per- 
dition. They  had  access  to  his  soul  to  utter  the  most 
grievous  and  blasphemous  proposals,  and  urge  them.  And 
well  did  Satan  improve  the  opportunity.  He  was  nigh  him 
groaning  and  bleeding  in  the  garden,  to  whisper  that  none 
could  endure  the  awful  doom  of  the  violated  law ;  that 
suffering  was  ungodlike,  and  might  as  well  come  on  those 
who  deserved  it ;  that  it  were  enough  to  drink  the  cup  of 
gall  and  wormwood  for  friends,  not  for  enemies ;  that  they 
were  not  worthy,  for  whom  he  should  do  this  great  thing; 
that  the  best  of  them  were  ready  to  forsake  and  deny  him 
(and  one  of  his  professed  friends  to  betray  him) ;  that  men 
did  not  thank  him  for  his  interference.  And  then  the  arch 
fiend  groaned  the  groans  of  hell  in  his  ear,  and  shrieked 
the  woe!  woe!  woe!  of  the  curse  of  God.  And  when  all  this 
failed  to  deter  the  Savior  from  his  purpose  of  love,  he  flew 
with  malicious  haste  to  stimulate  men  to  such  a  hellish  re- 
jection of  him  as  should  lead  the  great  Redeemer  to  aban- 
don in  disgust  the  beings  he  had  loved.  The  tempter  had 
permission  to  do  his  utmost;  the  shield  that  protects 
saints  was  entirely  withdrawn  from  the  holy  substitute. 

If  it  was  strange  that  God  should  permit  all  this  to 
come  upon  his  beloved  son,  how  much  stranger,  that  with 
his  own  hand  he  shoxild  afflict  him.  The  hand  of  God  was 
stretched  out  against  him,  as  it  never  was  against  any 
transgressors  on  the  earth.  All  his  previous  judgments 
were  shadows,  compared  with  what  came  upon  Christ.  The 
hand. of  God  touched  him,  and  this  it  was  which  made  him 
cry  out.  In  Gethsemane  marks  of  suffering  are  seen  which 
neither  men  nor  devils  caused.  The  Redeemer  was  smitten 
to  the  heart.  0!  what  means  this  darkness!  what  means 
this  moving  of  the  foundations  of  the  earth !  Guilty  men, 
you  need  not  fear;   Jesus  prays:   ''Father,  forgive." 

No  wonder  if  God's  vengeance  falls  on  transgi-essors.  It 
is    not    matter    for  wonder  that  a  flood  swallowed    up  a 


CALVARY   AND   ITS   VICTIM.  333 

whole  generation;  that  fire  consumed  Sodom  and  Gomorrha; 
nor  that  judgment  overtook  Korah,  Herod,  or  Ananias: 
but  wh\'  came  they  on  Jesus?  What  meaneth  the  heat  of 
this  great  anger?  It  was  against  sin.  He  suffered  for  sins 
he  never  knew.  His  soul  was  made  an  offering  for  sin.  Is 
not  the  imputation  of  human  sin  clearW  seen  in  this?  The 
little  lamb  at  the  altar  died  for  sin,  yet  for  no  act  of  its 
own;  but  crime  was  confessed  over  it,  and  laid  upon  its 
head.    No  more  did  Christ  die  for  any  act  of  his  own. 

'"Yes,  our  sins  have  done  the  deed : 
Drove  the  nails  that  fixed  him  tliere."' 

The  cause  of  all  was  human  sin ;  on  this  heaven  frowned ; 
under  the  Aveight  of  this  earth  trembled,  God's  anger  was 
against  our  sin;  not  against  Christ.  It  was  evidently  the 
teaching  of  every  sacrifice,  that  a  being  perfectly  harmless 
and  innocent,  and  incapable  of  transgression,  can  be  made 
by  his  own  consent,  and  God's  appointment  to  suffer  for 
the  sins  of  others.  This  truth  was  uttered  in  the  temple 
rites  every  day,  until  the  predicted  lamb  made  his  appear- 
ance. It  was  forced  on  the  attention.  It  was  the  sum  of 
the  only  ceremony,  which  heaven  instituted  for  human 
worship.  It  was  to  be  repeated  as  often  as  worship  was 
offered . 

Let  it  be  remembered,  that  others  than  the  guilty  Jews 
contributed  to  the  anguished  suffering  of  the  holy  sacrifice. 
Every  tongue  of  man  has  mocked ;  every  head  wagged ; 
every  lip  reviled;  every  heart  rejected  him.  In  the  garden 
there  was  no  crown  of  thorns,  no  cruel  scourge,  no  cross, 
no  insulting  reproach;  but  there  human  sin  began  to  be 
laid  upon  him.  Every  individual  of  the  fallen  family  added 
his  portion  to  the  burden.  The  great  Kedeemer  groaned 
for  sins  that  never  caused  their  actors  a  tear.  He  shed  for 
them  tears  of  blood.  On  their  account  the  sword  of  divine 
justice  pierced  his  inmost  heart.  "The  chastisement  of  our 
peace  was  upon  him."  Though  guilt  is  not  transferable; 
punishment  may  be.  It  is  matter  of  wonder  that  the  ac- 
count of  his  torments  can  be  read  with  dry  eyes  and  un- 
faltering voice  by  those  for  whom  his  blood  was  shed.  Men 


334  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

are  harder  than  the  rocks ;  or  their  hearts  would  be  rent 
by  the  story.  The  transfer  just  spoken  of  must  take  place 
by  consent  of  parties.  The  holy  sufferer  heartily  consented 
to  bear  our  iniquities :  the  faith  required  by  the  gospel  is 
an  adoption  by  us  of  God's  method  of  saving  sinners;  it 
is  to  be  our  own  hearty  consent. 


^ 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  335 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


INNOCENCE  OF  JESUS, 


Part  II.— Superiority  to  Temptatio:n^. 

Nothing  in  the  history  of  Jesus  appears  more  strange, 
than  that  he  should  consent  to  listen  to  the  temptations 
of  the  evil  one.  Were  the  gospels  a  tale  fabricated  by  de- 
signing men,  such  a  chapter  would  not  have  been  intro- 
duced, relating  that  the  infinitely  holy  one  submitted  to 
the  proposals  of  the  great  arch  fiend.  As  the  fact  is  indis- 
putable, a  reason  for  it  can  be  discovered  in  the  position 
which  he  occupied  as  champion  of  humanity ;  and  so  under 
obligation  to  meet  and  defeat  every  enemy  of  the  race  he 
loved.  This  liability  to  the  temptations  of  Satan  is  one  of 
the  most  horrid  evils  incident  to  our  condition.  Sins  at 
which  human  nature,  bad  as  it  is,  hesitates,  are  sometimes 
kept  before  the  mind,  invested  with  every  attraction  that 
can  sohcit  compliance;  while  at  the  same  time  there  is  a 
strange  forgetfulness  of  obligation  and  duty.  Though  the 
lure  be  i-ejected  at  first  with  decision,  yet  the  enemy^  often 
prevails  by  persistence  and  importunity. 

A  distinction  is  to  be  made  between  the  impulses  of  our 
own  nature,  and  those  suggestions  which  insinuate  them- 
selves into  our  thoughts  in  defiance  of  our  will,  and  besieo-e 
our  souls  sleeping  and  waking,  until  evil  passions  are 
thoroughly  inflamed;  and  a  conflict  ensues  painful  and 
long-continued  between  desire,  and  resolution  backed  by 
conscience  and  the  word  of  God.  The  man  has  never  lived 
who  could,  unaided,  stand  against  the  wiles  of  the  devil* 
though  repelled  at  the  first  with  determined  resolution' 
Doubtless  there  are  those  who  pass  through  life  without 
learning  the  terrors  of  the  great  enemy  of  souls  Some 
never  experience  them  before  the  hour  of  death.  Probably 
a  man  is  never  fiercely  assaulted  oftener  than  once  in  a 


336  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

life-time;  but  then  for  a  season  he  knows  the  bitterness  of 
hell.  It  is  said  of  Jesus,  that  "he  suffered  bein<>:  tempted;" 
his  humanit3'^  was  assailable,  and  open  to  all  the  impres- 
sions common  to  ourselves. 

The  object  of  the  tempter  Avas  so  adroitly  to  conceal  sin, 
as  by  solicitation  to  secure  his  consent  to  evil  undetected.  He 
was  permitted  every  advantage  in  the  contest.  Jesus  was 
abandoned  to  his  efforts,  it  would  seem  with  reluctance  on 
his  part,  beino-  "driven"  into  the  wilderness,  after  long- 
fasting-  had  exhausted  him,  and  phj^sical  distress  would 
have  made  a  man  an  easy  prey  to  murmuring-  and  com- 
plaint. He  was  "driven"  into  the  wilderness,  just  as  he 
was  driven  to  the  cross,  with  an  inward  recoil  and  hesita- 
tion of  soul.  There  he  felt  the  torment  of  keen  hunger;  and 
the  tempter  had  all  the  advantage  which  a  fainting-  body, 
depressed  spirits,  and  apparent  desertion  could  give.  The 
human  soul  is  easily  roused  to  fault-finding  by  privation, 
or  only  the  foreboding  of  it,  or  by  continued  neglect  on 
ihe  part  of  heaven.  But  in  the  condition  of  Jesus,  all 
things  met  that  could  possibly  predispose  a  mortal  to  re- 
pining ;  that,  with  a  fair  field  a  nd  all  odds  on  his  side,  the 
great  adversary  might  be  completely  foiled. 

I.  The  first  temptation  w^as,  that  Jesus  should  deliver 
himself  from  the  state  of  privation  in  which  he  was.  The 
Redeemer,  "being  formed  in  fashion  as  a  man,"  owed  the  same 
submission  to  the  Father's  will  which  man  does.  Though 
able  by  his  own  underived  power  to  accomplish  anything 
whatever,  yet  he  was  limited  to  such  works  as  the  Father 
had  given  him  to  do-  God  had  by  the  most  unmistakable 
direction  led  him  into  the  wilderness,  remote  from  human 
succor,  and  "with  the  wild  beasts,"  and  left  him  unsup- 
plied ;  left  him  until  he  felt  the  desertion.  Compliance  with 
the  tempter's  proposal  would  have  been  consenting  to  free 
himself  from  suffering,  which  God  had  brought  upon  him. 
Such  3'ielding  was  all  the  tempter  desired ;  it  involved  a 
great  principle.  It  would  lead  directly  to  the  abandonment 
of  the  whole  work  of  atonement. 

If  Christ  Nvould  escape  by  his  own  power  from  the  small- 
est suffering,  and  once  act  on  the  principle  suggested ;  he 
would  necessarily    decline   the  unutterable   sorrows,  which 


CALVARY   AND  ITS   VICTIM.  337 

la3'  in  his  way  to  the  cross  and  the  tomb.  To  escape  from 
suffering  by  unwarrantable  ways  is  in  itself  as  sinful  as  re- 
fusino-  obedience  to  God  in  the  most  important  matters. 
To  dash  the  cup  from  his  lips  in  Gethsemane,  and  violate 
all  the  engagements  entered  into  with  the  Father,  on  the 
ground  of  which  unnumbered  sins  had  already  been  for- 
given, would  have  been  no  more  guilty.  To  decline  pres- 
ent suffering  was  to  decline  the  atoning  sufferings.  The 
great  adversary  makes  no  allusion  to  them  however,  they 
are  kept  out  of  view;  and  he  simply  proposes  that  the 
Savior  relieve  himself  from  present  ills. 

"Command  that  there  stones  be  made  loaves:"  it  de- 
pends on  your  word,  was  the  temptation.  It  contained 
an  acknowledgment  of  his  ability;  and  seemed  to  pro- 
ceed from  one,  who  had  sympathy  for  him  in  his  distress. 
This  is  the  way  to  approach  a  man,  in  order  to  seduce  him 
by  flattery  and  sympathy.  We  are  not  informed  what  argu- 
ments were  used ;  but  arguments  were  not  lacking.  Doubt- 
less in  the  most  insinuating  way  it  was  suggested:  why  should 
an  all-sufficient  being  suffer  privation?;  that  the  meanest 
angel  in  heaven  was  secure  forever  from  the  experience  of 
it;  that  want  and  distress  were  ungodlike ;  that  it  was  pos- 
sible to  yield  and  supply  his  wants,  and  yet  atone  when 
the  hour  came. 

Ah!  how  vain!  Let  the  foam  rive  the  hoary  rock;  let 
darts  of  straw  destroy  leviathan;  let  the  breath  of  man 
overturn  the  universe ;  or  crush  the  throne  of  God :  these 
are  more  possible,  than  by  cunning  and  concealed  tempta- 
tion to  seduce  the  Messiah. 

How  divine  the  answer  of  the  Lord  Jesus!  He  quoted 
words  spoken  long  ago  in  that  very  wilderness,  perhaps 
in  that  very  place.  "It  is  written:  man  shall  not  live  by 
bread  alone;  but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of 
the  mouth  of  God."  It  implied  a  faith  in  God,  that  could 
never  for  a  moment  admit  a  doubt.  Bread  is  not  neces- 
sary :  God  has  thus  far  sustained  me,  and  he  will  still  sus- 
tain. It  implied  that  to  do  the  will  of  God  was  to  him 
better  than  meat  and  drink;  and  that  he  took  more  in- 
tense delight  in  suffering,  when  God  required  him  to  suffer, 

22 


388  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

than  he  could  possibly  take  in  the  supph'  of  food ;  that 
his  fainting  body  could  not  find  such  refreshment  in  food, 
as  his  soul  found  in  submission. 

This  was  the  constant  feeling  of  Jesus,  not  confined  to 
this  hour.  His  face  was  set  as  a  flint  to  refuse  no  sorrow, 
that  lay  in  his  way ;  that  he  would  not  raise  his  own  arm 
to  defend  himself;  or  even  open  his  lips  to  pray  that  God 
would  deliver  him.  Grace  can  enable  a  Christian  to  suffer 
without  repining;  can  enable  a  Paul  to  glory  in  affliction; 
but  Christ  found  as  great  satisfaction  in  suffering,  as  he 
had  taken  in  the  glor^^  which  he  had  with  the  Father  be- 
fore the  world  was.  Indeed  in  the  experience  of  saints  sub- 
mission is  heaven.  Vain  was  it  for  Satan  to  tempt  him: 
as  soon  could  a  madman  persuade  the  world,  that  the  sun 
does  not  shine.  A  proof  of  this  very  submission  in  Christ,^ 
the  tempter  had  in  his  own  ability  to  approach  him.  A 
word  from  him  would  have  driven  him  to  the  abyss,  "his 
own  place."  Christ  exercised  for  more  notable  submission 
in  being  subject  to  temptation,  than  he  did  in  the  priva- 
tion of  bread. 

The  last  and  great  temptation  in  Gethsemane  belongs  to 
this  class.  It  was  to  deliver  himself  from  suffering.  And 
in  that  case  the  tempter  had  everything  to  back  his  plea. 
Sensitive  nature  shrinks  from  suffering,  and  can  but  flinch 
and  hesitate  in  the  prospect.  Our  light  aftliction  is  griev. 
ous:  but  woe  unknown  on  earth  was  then  coming  on  the 
holj^  victim.  The  dark  cloud  hung  over  him;  and  Sinai's 
thunders  were  uttering  their  voices;  and  lightnings  of  the 
wrath  of  God  were  Hashing.  This,  that  was  coming,  was 
no  kind  stroke  of  God's  chastising  rod,  designed  for  the 
good  of  the  sufferer:  but  the  blow  of  his  avenging  sword, 
the  outpouring  of  vials,  in  which  was  no  mixture  of  mercy. 
It  was  penal  sorrow,  that  would  have  filled  the  souls  of 
men  with  an  eternity  of  anguish.  Even  Christ  feared  as 
he  entered  into  the  cloud;  and  pra^^ed,  that  if  possible, 
the  cup  might  pass.  Though  his  truth  and  honor  and 
covenant  bound  him  to  endure,  yet  he  shrank.  Oh!  how 
terrible  that  which  so  affected  our  great  surety!  There 
was  the  deepest  submission  in  the  prayer;  but  the  trial 
tested  that  submission  to  the  quick. 


CALVARY   AND   ITS   VICTIM.  339 

Oh!  how  Satan  sought  to  ao-o-ravate  those  fears,  and 
improve  that  hesitation.  The  horrors  of  damnation  were 
all  assembled ;  and  every  ingredient  of  bitterness,  that  earth 
and  hell  could  add,  was  added.  How  was  it  represented 
that  men  were  no  better  than  devils,  equally  enemies  of 
God;  and  that,  though  he  died  for  them,  they  would  mock 
at  his  d^'ing  agonies;  and  like  the  furies  of  hell,  exult 
around  his  cross;  that  to  shed  his  blood  would  be  sweeter 
to  them  than  all  the  pleasures  of  righteousness;  and  that 
after  all  his  efforts,  men  would  refuse  to  be  won  by  his 
love.  The  eagerness  of  Satan  and  the  excitement  of  the 
pit  were  at  their  height.  Hell  gnashed  its  teeth  at  the 
salvation  of  men,  and  pined  in  envy,  and  struggled  against 
it;  and  will  continue  to  do  so  till  the  very  last.  On  this 
subject,  lost  spirits  were  eloquent;  pleas  were  not  wanting: 
and  devils  more  guilty  than  men,  in  that  they  sinned  in 
their  own  pei'sons,  and  fell  by  their  own  act,  and  not  in 
a  progenitor,  urged  and  plead  and  raged,  with  the  fury  of 
spirits  already  damned,  to  divert  the  son  of  God  from  his 
purpose  to  save  men.  Their  whole  heart  was  in  it;  but 
what  did  they  effect?  Christ  submitted  to  receive  ever\' 
drop  of  the  cup  of  trembling.  When  lying  at  death's  door 
in  Gethsemane,  under  a  weight  of  mental  anguish,  under 
which  the  poor  body  could  not  exist,  he  would  not  even 
assume  miraculous  strength  by  his  own  power  to  enable 
him  to  endure.  He  relinquished  himself  entii-el^'  to  God's 
disposal.  Such  'submission,  he  owed  to  the  Father  only 
as  man. 

II.  The  second  temptation  belongs  to  an  entirely  differ, 
ent  class.  It  was  to  work  a  miracle  for  a  selfish  and  unholy 
purpose.  Presumption  is  a  false,  unwarranted,  and  con- 
ceited assurance  of  God's  favor.  It  is  an  easy  thing  for  the 
great  adversary  to  inveigle  a  mortal  from  a  triumphant 
faith  into  a  groundless  presumption,  by  ministering  to  his 
pride.  He  has  succeeded  in  this  strategy  with  the  holiest 
men  of  history;  and  essayed  the  same  management  in  the 
present  case.  Finding  his  subject  standing  upon  the  sub- 
limest  platform  of  an  exalted  faith,  he  next  attempted  to 
wean  him  over  to  a  criminal  excess  of  confidence.  He  said 
to  him,  standing  upon  a  pinnacle  of  the  temple:   "Cast  thy- 


340  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

self  down;''  probably  iu  view  of  the  wondering  crowd  be- 
low. It  was  a  general  expectation,  that  the  Messiah  would 
make  his  first  public  appearance  iu  the  temple,  according 
to  prophecy  as  they  interpreted  it.  Perhaps  Anna  and  others 
abode  in  the  temple  on  account  of  this  expected  revelation. 
So  that  this  temptation  was  not  to  presumption  simply; 
else  it  had  been  enough  to  take  him  to  some  precipice  in 
the  wilderness,  that  he  might  cast  himself  down  from 
thence;  but  it  was  a  proposal  to  him  to  exert  his 
power  presumptuously,  in  order  to  win  acceptance  by  the 
people.  It  was  equivalent  to  saying:  alight  from  the  skies 
unhurt  before  the  eyes  of  the  wondering  multitude;  and 
they  will  at  once  welcome  thee  as  the  expected  deliverer. 
The  promise  of  God  warrants  the  venture.  And  he  quoted 
or  rather  misquoted  the  text. 

The  temptation  was  an  invitation  to  the  holy  one  to  per- 
form a  miracle  for  show,  and  to  gratify  unhallowed  curiosity. 
He  would  do  nothing  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  admiration 
or  securing  reception.  Many  feel  an  astonishment  that  his 
w'orks  w^ere  of  so  unsensational  a  kind.  It  is  a  common 
idea  that  a  grander  scale  of  operations  would  have  better 
suited  his  claims.  While  the  most  amazing  wonders  were 
effected  by  Moses  and  Joshua  and  Elijah;  even  these  were  far 
inferior  to  what  might  have  been  expected  of  the  incarnate 
Jehovah.  There  is  a  monotony  in  the  account  of  his  mir- 
acles ;  and  they  were  less  striking  than  the  wonders  of  the 
old  dispensation.  Blind  eyes  indeed  opened  at  his  bidding; 
diseases  let  go  their  hold;  and  death  obeyed  his  powerful 
word :  but  all  occurred  in  remote  places,  among  the  poor, 
in  the  meanest  villages  of  the  country,  or  by  the  roadside. 
If  at  his  word  worlds  had  sprung  into  space,  and  suns  had 
flashed  into  radiance:  why  not  greater  appearance  of  maj- 
esty in  the  works  of  his  ministry? 

This  temptation  admitted  the  highest  claims  of  the  son 
of  Mary.  That  he  possessed  creative  power,  many  of  his 
works  demonstrate;  as  well  as  that  the  elements  were  sub- 
ject to  his  control ;  and  he  governs  them  still.  If  casting 
himself  doAvn  unhurt  were  to  him  easy  as  breathing,  as  his 
ascension  afterwards  evidenced :  why  withhold  any  proof 
that  might  be  demanded? 


CALVARY  AND  ITS   VICTIM.  341 

The  answer  is  plain.  AVhile  he  possessed  ample  power 
to  accomplish  this  or  any  other  feat,  that  could  be  named, 
as  God :  as  man  he  was  under  the  same  limitations  as 
other  men  as  to  duty.  Works  were  given  him  to  do.  It 
were  a  heinous  sin  to  abandon  the  method  assigned  by  in- 
finite wisdom;  in  order  to  obey  the  call  of  impudent 
curiosity,  oi'  seek  reception  by  the  gathered  multitude.  He 
would  obey  the  call  of  providence,  when  suffering  presented 
itself  before  him  ;  but  would  heed  no  other  call.  He  was  to 
be  no  wonder-worker  for  the  gaping  crowd:  his  works 
Avere  to  be  such  as  became  a  human  messenger,  and  such 
as  would  exhibit  the  ineffable  tenderness  and  yearning  of 
his  soul  for  men.  The  world  is  astonished  that  he  caused 
so  little  sensation  during  his  life.  As  a  mighty  earthquake 
shook  Jerusalem  at  his  death;  a  far  mightier  concussion 
shook  society  then.  During  his  life  no  man,  as  it  were, 
"heard  his  voice  in  the  street;"  at  his  death,  the  world  was 
turned  upside  down  by  him.  That  he  should  change  the 
programme  of  his  course  at  the  dictation  of  folly  and  sin 
is  not  supposable. 

His  holy  nature  detected  the  abominable  sin  proposed  by 
the  tempter.  Presumption  was  the  devil's  great  trap,  by 
which  he  could  catch  those  who  could  not  be  otherwise  en- 
snared. When  a  saint  cannot  be  easily  betrayed  into  out- 
ward transgression,  his  soul  can  be  made  at  almost  any 
time  to  swell;  and  secure  in  the  assurance  of  God's  favor, 
he  will  venture  unwarrantably.  To  nothing  is  human  na- 
ture more  prone:  the  world  is  full  of  it.  The  reply  of  our 
Lord  was:  "it  is  written,  thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord 
thy  God"  by  any  foolhardy  act,  to  which  no  promise  of 
security  is  attached.  It  was  enough  for  Satan  to  know 
that  Christ  saw  the  snare.  Henceforth  he  threw  off  all 
guise ;  sought  no  longer  to  conceal  himself ;  but  boldly  so- 
licited his  victim  to  the  most  flagrant  sin. 

This  humble  subjection  of  Jesus  to  the  Father  was  mani- 
est  during  his  whole  course.  Pride  had  no  place  in  him.  He 
was  in  no  excited  haste  to  verifj^  his  pretensions.  The 
works  given  him  to  do  gave  sufficient  evidence  of  his  per- 
sonality. It  is  not  the  greatness,  the  awe-inspii-ing  charac- 
ter of  the    miracles   that  convinces ;    it  [is  the  manner  in 


342  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

which  he  wroiio-ht  them  ;  by  the  word  of  his  power.  This 
power  was  inherent  in  him ;  because  greater  wonders  were 
wrought  by  the  disciples  in  his  name.  If  the  Father  had 
been  the  ultimate  fountain  of  the  power ;  the  works  should 
have  been  wrought  in  his  name.  But  Christ  was  the  foun- 
tain-head of  the  power:  and  "his  name,  through  faith  in 
his  name,"  effected  everything.  The  faith  due  to  God  was 
claimed  hy  Christ,  the  act  of  highest  worship  which  a 
creature  could  possibly  offer. 

III.  The  last  temptation  combined  all  the  seductions  of 
the  world  in  a  single  show.  In  order  to  understand  this 
foul  temptation,  in  which  a  desperate  assault  was  made  bj- 
the  adversary  without  disguise,  and  all  the  most  powerful 
weapons  he  could  wield  were  used ;  it  is  to  be  remembered 
that  the  Jewish  nation  were  looking  for  a  great  worldly 
conqueror  'and  victorious  king.  It  ran  in  their  dreams, 
that  his  appearance  would  compel  his  own  people  to  a  man 
to  receive  and  welcome  him;  that  he  should  reestablish 
the  throne  of  David,  and  make  Jerusalem  his  capital;  that 
the  eyes  of  an  admiring  world  should  be  fixed  upon  him; 
and  that  all  nations  should  flow  together  to  Jerusalem, 
give  up  their  idolatry  and  observe  the  law  of  Moses;  and 
if  any  refused  subjection  and  allegiance,  they  should  be 
broken  in  pieces,  as  a  potter's  vessel  by  a  rod  of  iron. 

They  seemed  to  see  the  time  approaching  when  Jerusalem 
would  become  the  metropolis  of  a  reformed  world,  in  which 
the  knowledge  of  the  one,  living,  and  true  God  would  prevail 
as  the  waves  in  the  ocean.  Peace  was  to  be  the  order  of 
his  kingdom ;  and  i.,>rgetting  all  animosities,  the  subject 
nations  w-ere  to  sit  down  under  his  shadow  with  great  de- 
light. God's  chosen  Israel  was  to  inherit  the  earth.  The 
mighty  change  in  the  world  was  to  be  effected  b3'  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  Messiah,  promised  from  the  beginning, 
whose  glory  and  grace  should  ravish  the  hearts  of  all  men. 
These  expectations  were  rooted  in  their  prejudices,  and 
went  far  in  moulding  their  national  character.  They  im- 
agined that  the  overwhelming  greatness  and  pomp  of  their 
nation's  king,  far  transcending  Solomon's,  would  dwarf  all 
previously  beholden. 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM,  343 

Taking  advantage  of  these  anticipations  of  the  people,  tlie 
tempter  took  the  Savior  into  an  exceeding*  high  mountain, 
and  showed  him  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world  and  the 
glory  of  them.  Filling  out  the  horizon  of  view,  he  caused 
to  pass  before  his  vision  all  that  is  desirable  and  alluring 
in  the  whole  world ;  the  magnificent  grandeur  of  the  Cyruses 
and  Alexanders,  their  pomp  and  power,  their  gold  and 
gems,  their  world-wide  empire.  He  pictured  before  him  all 
that  is  desirable  in  honors,  all  that  is  satisfying  in  pleas- 
ures, and  all  that  is  ennobling  in  power  for  good  ;  and  gave 
time  for  every  item  in  the  grand  scenery  to  be  contem- 
plated, and  to  produce  its  full  impression.  Jerusalem  the 
golden  appeared  the  centre  of  a  loyal  world;  all  nations, 
that  God  had  promised  to  the  Messiah,  being  cheerfully 
subject,  and  himself  the  object  of  universal  adoration. 

Dilating  upon  the  glowing  panorama,  he  placed  in  con- 
trast the  life  of  poverty  and  contempt;  the  rejection  of  a 
scornful  world ;  the  bitter  and  appalling  hatred  of  men ; 
the  death  of  anguish,  unalleviated  by  the  consoling  voice 
of  a  single  friend ;  rendered  as  dreadful  as  the  wrath  of  an 
angry  heaven  could  make  it.  He  showed  the  buffeting  and 
spitting,  the  crown  of  thorns,  the  cross  with  its  fearful 
spikes,  the  countenances  of  men,  swelling  with  ungovern- 
able fury;  andjpointing  to  what  awaited  him,  if  he  per- 
sisted in  his  purpose,  he  proposed :  All  this  glory  will  I 
give  you  without  suffering,  "if  you  will  fall  down  and  wor- 
ship me."  All  that  is  to  be  gained  by  dying,  is  the  subjec- 
tion of  the  world;  I  promise  you  as  much  w'ithout  a  single 
pain.  Come  as  a  worldly  king,  and  1  pledge  you  that  the 
Jews  shall  receive  you ;  the  world  shall  submit ;  I  have  con- 
trol over  them.  And  having  possession  of  the  avenues  by 
which  the  human  imagination  is  approached,  he  flared  the 
attractive  pageant  before  the  mind  of  the  lowly  Jesus,  till 
its  full  effect  was  gained.  For  far  less  he  had  often  bought 
the  souls  of  men,  and  few  had  he  ever  found,  who,  to  gain 
the  promised  preeminence,  would  not  consent  to  the  foulest 
crimes.  But  he  had  another  kind  of  antagonist  to  deal 
with  now. 

The  devil's  boast,  that  he  gave  the  kingdoms  of  the 
world  to  whom  he  would,  was  not  so  empty  as  it  at  first 


344  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

appears.  His  temptations  have  undoubtedly  had  effect 
chiefly  in  high  places,  where  the  strong  attractions  of  do-'' 
minion  and  power  are  felt,  to  gain  which,  ambitious  ones 
have  in  cases  innumerable  bartered  their  very  souls.  The 
elevation  of  his  favorites,  who  would  effectually  accomplish 
his  designs,  he  has  often  secured;  and  appears  to  have 
controlled  for  generations,  the  operations  of  the  govern- 
ments,, whose  aim  has  been  to  destroy  the  church.  Indeed 
of  the  great  anti-Christian  power  now  existing  it  is  stated : 
"the  dragon  gave  him  his  power,  and  his  seat,  and  great 
authority."  He  is  the  devil's  great  agent  and  commis- 
sioner: his  government  is  the  devil's  great  engine  for  the 
extirpation  of  the  true  church.  Satan  is  at  the  bottom  of 
the  whole  scheme:  his  counsel  directs  in  every  plan,  and 
his  arm  is  stretched  out,  when  the  blood  of  the  faithful 
flows. 

He  well  knew  that  the  slave  and  worshipper  of  worldly 
grandeur  was  a  worshipper  of  himself;  and  at  this  time 
made  no  secret  with  the  Kedeemer.  He  proposed  boldly: 
"fall  down  and  worship  me."  In  replj^,  the  powerful  word 
of  Christ,  unable  longer  to  listen,  drove  him  to  his  dis- 
tance, and  terminated  the  temptation.  Abashed  he  shrunk 
away  in  the  shame  of  utter  and  hopeless  defeat.  He  still 
nourished  hope,  however,  of  ultimate  success,  when  the 
dread  reality  of  the  cross  in  all  its  horrors  should  immedi- 
ately impend.  Knowing  also  that  his  antagonist  was  a 
perfect  man  with  all  the  infirmities  incident  to  human 
nature,  he  never  abandoned  hope  of  victory  in  the  end. 

It  is  worthy  of  notv^that  the  tempter  conceded  to  our 
Jesus  the  possession  of  unlimited  power,  absolute  dominion 
and  the  full  disposal  of  himself,  as  being  under  no  control 
or  necessity  of  submitting  to  suffering  except  by  his  own 
deliberate  consent.  The  great  adversary  did  not  succeed 
in  awakening  in  him.  the  first  breathing  of  corrupt  desire. 
"The  prince  of  this  world  cometh,  and  hath  nothing  in 
me."  "He  knew  no  sin."  He  passed  uncontaminated 
through  the  ordeal.  The  high  elevation  of  unsullied  purity, 
to  the  full  conception  of  which  even  sinful  mortals  cannot 
attain,  was  sustained  by  our  Jesus  to  the  last,  and  knew 
no  shadow  of  a  change.    Heaven   and    earth  could  sooner 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  345 

pass,  than  change  take  place  in  him.  His  face  was  set  as 
a  flint  toward  Calvai-y.  On  the  ground  of  his  future  atone- 
ment, sins  had  been  forgiven  through  four  thousand  years : 
and  his  suffering  though  future  was  as  certain  as  if 
already  past. 

It  was  humiliation  indeed  unspeakable  to  lend  his  ear  to 
the  foul  suggestions  of  the  fiend.  He  submitted  to  it, 
only  because  it  is  one  of  the  miseries  incident  to  our  fallen 
humanity.  When  Satan  at  the  last  grasped  and  urged 
the  only  available  temptation,  the  bitterness  of  the  cup, 
and  the  un worthiness  of  men,  it  was  using  weapons 
already  proved  powerless.  In  terrible  disappointment  he 
exhausted  all  his  malice  in  accumulating  distress  upon  the 
head  of  the  innocent  victim,  who  was  made  to  taste  of 
every  possible  cup  of  woe,  and  descended  to  the  lowest 
depths  of  sorrow. 

If  men  realized  the  evils  that  await  them  during  the 
course  of  a  life  time,  as  old  age  and  experience  realize 
them,  and  it  were  left  to  our  choice  whether  to  live  or  not; 
the  cup  of  life  is  so  imbittered  by  our  light  afflictions,  that 
there  is  not  one  who  would  not  decline  tasting  it.  Few 
and  evil  are  our  days;  and  hardly  could  a  man  be  found 
willing  to  live  life  over  again.  We  have  the  heart  to  live 
only  because  we  are  ignorant  of  what  we  are  to  meet. 
Jesus  Christ  had  the  knowledge  of  all  that  awaited  him ; 
and  what  is  all  that  befalls  men  in  a  world  of  mercy  com- 
pared with  what  came  on  Christ:  by  a  word  he  could  have 
escaped  it;  and  yet  he  was  steadfast  to  his  purpose.  "Our 
misery  touched  his  heavenly  mind."  He  loved,  and  "he 
loved  to  the  end." 


346  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 


BEARING  OQR  SIN, 


"Who  his  owa  self  bare  our  sins  ia  his  own  bod\-  on  the  tree." 
1  Pet.  2;  24. 

It  is  difficult  to  fix  any  meaning  on  the  words,  "bare  our 
sins,'"  otlier  than  that  Jesus  bore  the  punishment  due  to 
us  on  account  of  our  sins.  This  is  the  only  meaning  of  the 
words  in  the  books  of  Moses,  where  they  frequently  occur. 
The  language  unquestionably  refers  to  the  ceremony  of 
laying  the  hand  upon  the  head  of  the  atoning  lamb  or 
bullock,  while  a  crime  was  being  publicly  confessed,  on  ac- 
count of  which  it  was  to  be  offered  as  a  sacrifice.  The  sin 
was  laid  upon  it,  and  it  died  in  consequence,  and  thus  bare 
the  sin.    In  the  same  manner  Christ  bare  our  sins. 

Of  all  the  wonders  of  a  wonderful  God,  this  is  infinitely 
the  most  wonderful.  The  hmitless  creation  out  of  nothing 
is  matter  of  exhaustless  wonder;  the  upholding  of  all  things 
by  the  word  of  his  power,  still  increases  our  wonder;  but 
knowing  the  hatefulness  and  injustice  of  sin  and  its  op- 
position to  God;  that  he  should  be  able  to  forgive  in- 
iquity, transgression,  and  sin,  surpasses  in  wonder;  and 
the  universe  is  palsied  with  surprise  on  learning,  that  this 
forgiveness  is  possible  on  account  of  the  vicarious  suffer- 
ings of  the  second  person  of  the  Godhead.  It  is  mentioned 
in  the  verse  as  most  remarkable,  "who  his  own  self  bare 
oui^  sins.-'  The  very  God  against  whom  sin  is  committed, 
whose  prerogative  it  is  to  punish,  condescends  himself  in 
human  form  to  atone.  Relief  might  have  been  expected 
sooner  from  any  other  quarter.  From  the  throne  heaving 
and  quaking  like  Sinai,  its  emblem,  with  vengeful  thunders 
struggling  to  get  free  for  the  destruction  of  the  transgres- 
sors, a  voice  struck  upon  a  stupefied  universe:  "Deliver 
them  from  going  down  to  the  pit ;  for  1  have  found  a  ran- 


CALVARY   AND  ITS  VICTIM.  347 

som."  "I  have  laid  their  help  on  one  Avho  is  mighty."  The 
words  of  Peter  teach,  that  the  atoning  sufferings  of  Christ 
were  those  of  the  clpsing  scene  of  his  life.  Though  he  was 
a  sufferer  through  his  whole  career,  yet  at  the  last,  he 
"was  made  a  curse."    In  his  death  he  atoned. 

1.  Nothing  can  be  more  unscriptural  than  the  notion, 
that  a  man  can,  in  this  short  life,  bear  the  punishment  of 
his  own  iniquities.  This  is  indeed  a  world  of  sorrow;  a  vale  of 
tears ;  wave  of  affliction  follows  wave ;  the  light  is  but  dark- 
ness: but  the  sufferings  encountered  here  are  not  penal; 
but  disciplinary,  and  intended  for  our  good.  Yet  God  has 
sometimes  punished  in  this  life:  but  how  does  he  punish? 
Instances  are  given  in  his  word;  though  the  Bible  nowhere 
declares;  that  a  full  and  adequate  retribution  was  inflicted 
in  any  case. 

David's  sin  in  numbering  the  people  of  Israel,  lay  not  in 
the  act  of  enumeration :  God  himself  had  commanded  a 
like  numbering  in  the  wilderness ;  but  in  the  pride  that  dic- 
tated it,  with  which  people  and  king  were  alike  infected. 
This  was  a  sin  that  did  no  harm  to  society;  it  was  not  an 
offence  against  man:  pride  God  hates.  The  victims  of  the 
pestilence  which  ensued  numbered  seventy  thousand. 

Hezekiah,  in  the  matter  of  the  ambassadors  from  the 
king  of  Babylon,  sent  to  congratulate  him  on  his  miracu- 
lous recovery  from  the  grave,  fell  into  the  same  condemna- 
tion. Flattered  by  the  notice  of  the  great  idolater  into  a 
sense  of  his  own  distinction,  he  boastfully  exhibited  all  his 
treasures,  forgetting  his  death-bed  humility  and  his  groan- 
ings  out  of  the  dust.  This  pride  was  in  no  sense  a  harm 
of  any  human  being;  yet  for  it,  God  sent  his  prophet  to 
denounce  to  him,  that  the  treasures  should  all  be  carried  to 
Bab^'lon ;  and  his  own  children  be  eunuchs  in  the  palace  of 
its  king.  The  agonized  repentance  of  Hezekiah  alone  pre- 
vented the  fulfillment  at  once  in  his  own  day;  yet  was  it 
soon  fulfilled,  and  to  the  very  letter. 

Moses  sinned  by  the  same  pride  and  presumption,  and 
for  it  was  forbidden  to  enter  the  promised  land ;  his  only 
earthly  wish  remaining  being  to  die  in  the  land  of  Abra- 
ham, Isaac  and  Jacob. 


348  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

The  children  of  Israel,  after  their  deliverance  from  Egypt, 
and  sustentation  through  the  wilderness,  refused,  on  the  very 
borders  of  Canaan,  to  pass  over  and  possess  it.  They 
charged  upon  Jehovah,  that  he  could  not  give  them  the 
possession  promised.  Their  sin  was  unbelief;  a  sin  that 
did  no  injury  to  mortal;  but  it  is  the  sin  which  more  pro- 
vokes the  Most  High,  and  which  ho  punishes  more  severely 
than  any  other.  They  were  condemned  to  leave  their  car- 
casses to  bleach  in  the  desert,  and  not  an  adult  to  tread 
the  land  of  promise.  "And  ye  shall  know  my  breach  of 
promise,  saith  the  Lord?" 

Ananias  for  a  lie  to  the  Holy  Ghost  that  hurt  no  man, 
and  no  worse  than  is  told  eveix  day,  fell  in  death,  with 
the  lie  upon  his  lips. 

Herod,  for  permitting  the  audacious  flattery  of  the  peo- 
ple, was  smitten  of  an  angel,  and  eaten  of  worms,  while  he 
lived.    Pride  God  hates. 

Two  thousand  years  ago,  the  Jewish  nation  rejected 
Christ  with  unexampled  scorn  and  hatred,  imprecating  his 
blood  on  their  own  heads  and  their  children's.  Their  sin 
was  no  greater  than  that  of  Voltaire  and  Paine,  and  those 
in  every  age  who  deny  the  Lord  that  bought  them.  And 
what  have  been  the  consequences  of  that  sin?  They  are 
not  yet  all  told.  For  eighteen  centuries  Jewish  blood  has 
flowed  like  water;  scarcely  is  there  a  land  that  has  not 
been  soaked  with  it;  and  "for  all  this  his  hand  is  stretched 
out  still."  The  Jews  remain  to  this  day  scattered,  despised, 
and  down-trodden,  with  no  power  to  relieve  themselves, 
and  bhnded  judicially  to  the  Savior,  whom  their  fathers 
crucified.  In  their  dispersion,  a  sword  was  drawn  out  after 
them,  that  is  not  yet  sheathed.  God's  awful  anger  cannot 
be  told  in  one  generation. 

Are  any  man's  sins  thus  punished,  his  pride,  his  unbelief, 
his  falsehoods?  All!  the  first  drop  of  the  cup  of  the  fierce- 
ness of  the  wrath  of  Almighty  God  could  not  be  drunk  in 
this  world.  And  the  Bible  does  not  say,  that  in  any  of 
these  cases  the  ])unishment  was  all  that  divine  justice  re- 
quires; it  gives  us  to  understand  the  very  contrary. 

David's  great  sin  in  the  matter  of  TTriah  was  terrib.l;y 
visited  in  this  world.    Two  of  his  own  sons  were  cut  off  by 


CALVARY  AND   ITS  VICTIM.  349 

the  most  bloody  death;  one  of  whom  God  raised  up  to 
hunt  his  father's  life,  and  pursue  him  like  an  avenger  of 
blood.  The  f^word  departed  not  from  his  house  forever. 
And  yet  God  expressly  declared  by  the  prophet  that  this 
sin  was  forgiven.  What!  so  terribly  avenged,  and  yet  for- 
given !  Yes,  a  doom  reversed,  whose  horrors  we  in  this  life 
know  little  of. 

"There  is  a  death  whose  pang 
Outlasts  the  fleeting  breath."  ' 

If  there  is  future  suffering,  it  is  endless.  Let  it  be  once 
admitted  that  the  Bible  speaks  of  misery  hereafter,  and  the 
worm  that  gnaws  will  never  die,  the  fire  that  is  kindled 
will  never  be  quenched.  Worlds  and  suns  may  wear  out 
and  fade  away;  but  God's  anger  will  never,  never  be  told; 
Jehovah  will  never  say,  it  is  enough.  Tremendous  being! 
How^  fearful  to  fall  into  thine  avenging  hands!  If  for  the 
crucifixion  of  Jesus,  an  inexorable  curse  has  hunted  the 
children  of  that  nation  for  two  thousand  years,  O !  what 
has  been  the  doom  of  the  original  transgressors,  long  since 
gone  to  their  account!  And  what  awaits  those  who  imi- 
tate the  same  example  of  unbelief !  Let  us  not  fall  into  his 
avenging  hands. 

2.  It  is  passing  strange  that  such  a  God  should  forgive 
sin.  Mercy  is  b^'^  no  means  necessary  to  our  conception 
of  a  perfect  character.  A  perfect  being  must  indeed  be  in- 
finitely good;  but  it  is  not  necessary  that  he  should  be 
good  to  the  transgressor  of  his  laws.  The  character  of 
God  seemed  undoubtedly  perfect  in  the  view  of  angels, 
when  the  existence  of  such  an  attribute  as  mercy  was  un- 
known; and  complete  also;  no  excellence  was  lacking  to 
fill  out  the  circle  of  his  perfection.  He  was  worthy  of  their 
entire  love  and  confidence  and  service:  and  the  knowledge 
of  his  purpose  to  redeem  men,  communicated  to  those  holy 
beings,  imparted  at  once  deeper  discoveries  in  the  mystery 
of  the  Godhead  than  they  had  made  during  their  whole 
previous  existence.  Boundless  glories,  brighter  than  had 
illuminated  the  past,  broke  at  once  upon  their  astonished 
vision,  and  excited  raptures  before  unknown.    These  glories 


350  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

inspired  their  song  upon  the  plains  of  Bethlehem,  over  the 
advent  of  the  Son  of  God  to  earth.  It  Avas  as  g;reat  a 
revelation  to  them  as  to  men. 

Unpi-inoipled  rulers  more  readily  pardon  crimes;  and  it 
is  plain  that  it  is  ehietiy  the  unprincipled  who  clamor  for 
the  abolition  of  capital  punishment.  To  condone  a  capital 
offence  is  often  treason  to  the  community.  The  mighty 
question  arises  in  men's  thoughts,  shall  Jehovah  forgive? 
Satan  never  believed  forgiveness  to  be  possible  to  trans- 
gressors, when  he  tempted  the  parents  of  our  race.  He 
supposed  that  men  would  be  doomed,  as  he  himself  was, 
to  an  endless  exclusion  from  the  favor  of  God,  by  one 
transgression.  He  thought  that  by  his  success  in  tem[)tiug, 
he  had  secured  the  utter  condemnation  of  the  new  order 
of  intelligent  creatures.  Many  a  dying  sinner  has  left  it 
as  his  testimony,  notwithstanding  all  the  assurances  to  the 
contrary  with  which  the  Bible  is  filled,  that  God  cannot 
forgive;  that  there  is  in  sin  something  so  opposite  to  his 
nature,  and  repugnant  to  his  holy  character;  that  he  can 
never  pass  it  by  unpunished:  in  short  that  he  cannot  be 
God.  and  fail  to  punish  transgression.  Sin  is  indeed  un- 
pardonable. He  consents  to  release  the  sinner  only  on  the 
ground  of  the  satisfaction  to  the  law  rendered  by  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  He  is  never  reconciled  to  the  sin:  but  "there 
is  forgiveness  with  him  that  he  might  be  feared."  Christ 
has  paid  the  debt.  He  has  suffered  in  the  place  of  the 
transgressor. 

The  principle  of  substitution  pervades  the  whole  revela- 
tion from  the  time  of  Abel.  The  victim  on  the  altar  was 
a  substitute.  The  passover  lamb  died  in  the  place  of  the 
first-born  of  the  family.  In  every  house  in  the  land  of 
Egypt,  a  life  was  to  be  taken,  blood  had  to  be  shed :  the 
angel  passed  over  the  houses,  whose  doors  were  already 
marked  with  blood.  The  lamb  of  the  temple  altar  was  a 
substitute.  Its  life  was  not  an  equivalent  of  its  Master's 
life;  but  it  was  freely  given  foi-  it  and  in  place  of  it,  when 
that  Master's  life  had  been  forfeited  by  his  crime.  Jesus 
is  our  lamb,  so  called  throughout  the  New  Testament, 
twenty-seven  times  in  the  single  book  of  Revelation.  His 
death  is  called  "a  sacrifice,"  "a  sacrifice  for  sins,"  "an  offering 


(JALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  351 

for  sin, "whose  sins?  not  his  own;  for  he  was  "without  sin." 
His  blood  is  called  a  "propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  world." 
All  the  good  bestowed  on  us  is  bestowed  for  his  sake:  his 
is  the  merit  which  procures  it.  He  purchased  us,  and  for 
us  all  the  jovs  we  receive.  "There's  ne'er  a  gift  his  hand 
bestows,   but  cost  his  heart  a  groan." 

This  principle  enters  into  the  every-day  life  of  men.  How^ 
often  do  cases  occur,  in  which  men  owe  their  escape  from 
impending  destruction  to  the  voluntary  death  of  another. 
"Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay 
down  his  life  for  his  friends."  A  lady,  sitting  carelessly 
in  a  third  story  window  of  a  Philadelphia  residence,  with 
a  child  in  her  lap,  lost  her  balance,  and  was  in  danger  of 
falling  to  the  sidewalk.  A  single  moment  and  a  single 
movement  remained  to  her;  she  could  have  saved  herself 
by  that  movement,  and  have  left  the  child  to  fall.  She 
used  the  last  motion,  that  was  in  her  power,  to  push  the 
child  back  to  safety,  while  herself  was  dashed  to  death 
on  the  pavement  below.  She  had  a  right  to  give  her  own 
life,  and  save  her  child.  Jesus  had  a  right  to  give  himself 
a  sacrifice  for  sinners.     Impelled  by  mighty  love  he  did  it. 

3.  How  great  and  important  a  being  he  must  have 
been  to  stand  before  a  sin-avenging  God,  and  answer  for 
the  sins  of  the  world!  He  was  no  less  than  supreme.  He 
must  have  been  as  high  as  the  immutable  law,  the  basis  of 
Jehovah's  throne.  His  offering  must  have  possessed  a 
merit  beyond  computation  in  order  to  offset  the  unending 
condemnation  of  sinners.  His  disciples  were  much  more 
impressed  with  his  humanity  than  with  his  divinity ;  it  was 
so  near  and  appreciable;  the  same  may  be  true  of  our- 
selves. A  full  comprehension  of  his  divinity  is  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  highest  creatures  in  existence:  hence  the  full 
force  of  the  admission  of  his  Godhead  is  not  easily  real- 
ized. Our  understanding  of  his  real  greatness  is  not  ob- 
tainable from  a  consideration  of  his  miracles.  They  were 
displays  of  his  power  on  the  smallest  conceivable  scale.  It 
was  part  of  his  humiliation  to  perform  only  works  level 
to  human  observation.  They  were  a  hiding  of  his  great- 
ness. 


352  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

His  disciples  saw  his  miracles  and  wondered;  what  if  they 
had  seen  suns  light  at  his  bidding,  and  beheld  him  adjust  the 
balancings  of  worlds  in  their  measureless  orbits!  These  were 
made  "by  him  and  for  him."  They  would  never  ha.ve 
been  brought  into  being,  unless  he  had  covenanted  with 
the  Father  to  give  his  life  and  soul  for  sinners.  Three 
of  his  disciples  saw  him  transfigured,  and  his  counte- 
nance did  "shine  as  the  sun."  But  what  if  they  had 
seen  the  glory  which  he  had  with  the  Father,  before 
the  world  was;  when  a  coronet  of  suns  were  too  dark 
for  his  crown;  and  the  uncreated  light  was  unapproach- 
able, which  no  man  could  see  and  live!  They  saw 
Moses  and  Elias  bow  to  him  and  sink  before  his  superiority. 
But  what  was  this  to  what  one  of  these  same  heard:  "and 
all  things  in  heaven  and  on  earth,  and  under  the  earth, 
and  such  as  are  in  the  sea,  and  all  that  are  in  them  heard 
I  saying:  "Blessing,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and  power  be 
unto  him  that  siteth  on  the  throne  and  unto  the  lamb 
forever  and  ever."  They  w^ere  filled  with  amazement  to 
see  him  raise  the  dead.  But  at  the  last  da^^  his  voice 
shall  wake  the  sleepers  of  all  the  ages.  He  shall  wrap  together 
the  heavens  as  a  scroll,  and  fold  them  up  as  a  garment; 
and  they  shall  be  changed.  From  his  face  this  sin-polluted 
earth  and  sky  shall  flee  away  as  guilty  things;  and  no 
place  be  found  for  them. 

Wonder  was  boundless  to  see  all  departments  of  nature 
obey  him;  but  he  sways  the  sceptre  of  dominion  over  an 
empire,  in  comparison  of  which  this  earth  is  an  atom, 
Herschell  with  his  gveat  refractor  saw  nebulae  resolve  into 
distant  universes  of  limitless  extent;  they  are  but  part  of 
Christ's  dominion.  Men  by  the  side  of  him  are  but  as  the 
small  dust  of  the  balance,  unworthy  even  of  being  blown 
away.  They  are  but  a  thing  of  naught,  and  less  than 
nothing  and  vanity.  His  miracles  were  but  works  suitable 
to  a  human  messenger.  The  intolerable  brightness  of  the 
God-head  was  veiled  with  a  veil  of  thick  clay,  through 
which  even  his  favored  few  did  not  see. 

The  intensely  acute  sensitiveness  of  the  God-man  must 
not  be  overlooked.  Coarser  natures  have  less  capacity  of 
feeling  than  those  more  finely  organized.    The  more  refined 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  353 

the  nature  is,  the  more  keenly  succeptible  it  becomes  to 
impressions  of  all  kinds.  The  extreme  and  surpassing- 
keenness  of  divine  sensibility  is  beyond  a  creature's  con- 
ception. 

4.  How  dreadful  must  have  been  the  sufferings  which 
atoned  for  the  sins  of  the  world?  It  was  not  only  neces- 
sary that  our  Redeemer  should  be  divine;  but  that  his 
sufferings  should  be  sufficient  to  atone:  and  of  these  God 
is  the  only  judge.  On  this  point  the  common  impressions 
are  as  far  below  the  real  facts,  and  as  unworthy  of  the 
subject,  as  they  can  be  on  any  subject.  The  attention  of 
the  multitude  is  engrossed  in  the  contemplation  of  the 
pains  of  the  mortal  body,  the  scorn  and  taunts  of  the 
world,  and  its  terrible  ingratitude.  In  each  of  these  there 
was  much  that  was  dreadful;  but  possibly  they  hardly 
deserve  the  emphatic  notice  they  secure,  when  compared 
with  the  cup  brought  to  his  lips  by  the  hand  of  sin-aveng- 
ing justice. 

Others,  noting  the  keen  anguish  of  his  soul,  belittle  the 
dreadful  history  by  accounting  for  it,  as  caused  by  the 
immediate  prospect  of  what  was  to  be  endured,  or  by  a 
more  vivid  view  of  the  evil  of  sin  in  God's  sight.  Either 
supposition  is  derogatory  to  the  omniscience  of  the  holy 
sufferer.  The  prospect  was  ever  distinctly  before  him :  his 
knowledge  of  the  evil  of  sin  could  not  be  more  clear.  It  is 
asserted  by  this  class  of  interpreters,  that  the  angel,  who 
appeared  in  Gethsemane,  was  sent  to  remind  him  of  con- 
siderations which  might  excite  him  to  firmer  decision. 
How  unworthy  of  the  stupendous  subject! 

The  depth  of  his  mental  anguish  may  be  inferred  from 
the  fact,  that  his  body  needed  miraculous  support  in  order 
to  strengthen  him  to  endure  it.  The  most  astonishing 
signs  of  an  inexplicable  anguish  show  themselves,  not  pro- 
duced from  the  presence  of  any  human  enemy.  Nothing- 
like  it  was  ever  known.  The  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ 
stand  alone,  not  to  be  classed  with  any  known  experi- 
ences. Remorse,  foreboding  and  despair  never  produced  phe- 
nomena so  astounding.  Here  was  a  sufferer  endued  with 
unyielding  fortitude,  possessed  of  a  composure  which  noth- 
ing had  been  able  to  shake  for  a  moment,  and  a  strength 

—23 


354  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

which  it  was  impossible  in  the  nature  of  thino-g  to  over- 
come; who  in  horror  exclaimed:  "my  soul  is  exceeding- 
sorrowful  even  unto  death." 

The  human  body  seemed  to  be  on  the  very  verge  of  dis- 
solution by  mere  mental  anguish.  A  profuse  sweat  is  one 
of  the  precursors  of  death :  the  blood  forsaking  its  accus- 
tomed channels  mingled  with  it,  forming  great  drops.  In- 
stances in  which  something  slightlj'  similar  has  occurred, 
are  on  record ;  but  in  all  such  death  has  almost  immedi- 
ately supervened.  He  knew  the  fierceness  of  the  anger  of 
Almighty  God  against  sin :  he  also  knew  what  it  was  to 
assume  the  responsibility  for  the  sins  of  the  world.  The 
cup  had  in  its  mixture  the  murderer's  heart,  the  liar's 
tongue,  the  pollutions  of  sensuality,  the  greed  and  crimes  of 
avarice,  the  rebellions  of  unbelief,  and  all  the  enormities 
which  have  made  the  creation  to  groan  through  the  ages. 
The  cross,  the  shame,  the  insults  though  terrible  were 
light  in  comparison.  Martyrs  have  endured  the  like  and 
triumphed  over  them. 

The  depth  of  his  sufferings  may  be  inferred  from  the  pro- 
digies attending  his  death.  They  were  evidently  connected 
with  bis  death,  and  no  ordinary  natural  phenomena.  The 
sun  had  arisen  as  usual,  and  shone  with  its  ordinary 
brightness.  No  eclipse  could  occur  at  this  time:  no  cloud 
veiled  the  sky.  The  fury  of  men  had  done  its  work:  their 
victim  had  been  hung  amid  unheard  of  blasphemy  upon 
the  cross.  For  three  hours  the  storm  of  mockery  had 
beat  upon  him.  Plit  at  its  meridian  height,  the  sun  lost 
its  light,  and  hung  as  a  world  of  blood  above  their  heads; 
and  through  the  dismal  shade  men  faintly  saw  the  tombs 
yawning  and  heard  the  fall  of  the  doors  of  stone,  while 
the  earth  uttered  groans  from  its  deep  caverns. 

This  was  no  ordinary  earthquake.  Such  may  open 
fissures  in  the  ground,  and  may  displace  lofty  rocks;  but 
never  rend  them.  This  movement  tore  the  mighty  rocks 
in  sunder,  not  according  to  the  direction  of  the  natural 
strata  but  across  them ;  it  opened  the  tombs  of  the  dead ; 
its  force  was  expended  largely  upon  the  temple,  which  it 
shook  until  its  strong  and  heavy  veil  was  torn  in  sunder, 
beginning  at  the  top  to  the  bottom ;    yet  displaced  not  a 


CALVARY  AND  IT8   VICTIM.  355 

stone.  It  >vas  unaccountable.  When  a  man  grieves,  only 
his  own  body  is  disturbed;  the  eyes  weep;  the  frame  is 
convulsed;  the  heart  almost  stands  still.  When  Jesus  suf- 
fered, nature  itself  shuddered  and  sympathized.  "Either 
the  frame  of  the  world  was  dissolving,  or  its  maker  was 
suffering." 

The  first  drop  of  the  cup  in  Gethsemane  was  like  to  de- 
stroy mortal  life;  its  dregs  were  drained  upon  the  cross. 
These  portents  marked  the  period  when  the  internal  gloom 
had  deepened  into  the  most  dismal  darkness;  and  the  cry 
was  extorted  that  God  had  forsaken  him.  Be  not  aston- 
ished at  the  darkened  heavens;  this  was  no  wonder  compared 
with  the  scene  of  Calvary.  Be  not  astonished  at  the 
strange  trembling  of  the  earth;  this  was  nothing  compared 
with  the  transaction  of  that  fatal  day.  That  the  Loid  of 
Glory  should  suffer  is  the  wonder. 

How  must  the  hearts  of  the  leaders  have  throbbed,  as 
they  marked  the  waning  light,  and  beheld  the  gaping  crev- 
ices beneath  their  feet!  What  a  check  was  then  put  to  the 
blasphemy  and  taunt,  that  had  before  known  no  bounds ! 
Instead  of  wagging  their  heads  and  reviling,  the  scorners 
trembled  for  themselves.  Those,  who  had  gone  out  to  see 
the  strange  sight,  smote  upon  their  breasts  and  returned. 
Men  refused  to  mourn  for  him;  their  countenances  were 
not  darkened ;  but  the  earth  put  on  her  weeds,  and  trem- 
bled for  her  lord;  the  sky  veiled  itself  in  black.  Not  only 
did  the  earth  quake:  the  throne  of  God  above  was  shaken. 
Angels  were  dumb  with  silence;  and  heaven  Avas  deserted. 
One  scene  drew  the  attention  of  all  that  had  care  for  God, 
and  were  capable  of  thought.  One  scene  Vvill  stand  fresh 
as  yesterday  in  the  memory  of  saints  and  angels  to  all 
eternity — the  scene  of  Calvary. 

There  is  in  the  cross  of  Christ  something  more  winning 
than  all  the  fascinations  of  sin.  It  gives  new  light  upon 
the  character  of  God,  and  demonstrates  his  love  to  be  of 
a  quality  not  found  on  earth.  Love  is  the  most  wonder- 
ful of  all  his  perfections,  and  swallows  up  all  his  attributes, 
and  becomes  the  governing  impulse,  and  fills  his  whole 
nature.  We  cease  to  wonder  at  the  immensity  of  his  works ; 
at  the  boundless  expanse  of  space  filled  with  the  shining 


350  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE, 

proofs  of  his  wisdom  and  power;  at  the  equally  boundless 
universe  below  us,  revealed  by  the  microscope,  but  full  of 
joyous  life;  we  cease  to  wonder  at  the  mysteries  of 
his  incomprehensible  being ;  and  our  souls  are  absorbed  in 
the  greater  wonder  of  his  love.  See  sin  strike  the  Redeemer 
to  the  heart,  and  love  it  if  you  can.  The  cross  shows  its 
evil  more  clearly  than  any  other  demonstration ;  it  alone 
can  make  us  sick  of  sin  forever.  We  are  bj^  this  become 
dead  unto  sin;  its  seductions  we  no  longer  heed.  It  loses 
its  iron  grasp  of  our  souls. 

He  wept.  What  had  he  to  weep  over?  He  was  in  him- 
self infinitely  and  eternally  happy.  He  wept  for  our  sins, 
"that  we  might  weep."  He  wept  not  only  tears  of  grief; 
but  tears  of  blood.  He  suffered.  Ah!  who  could  make  him 
suffer  ?  Where  is  the  wretch  to  be  found  ?  Sinner,  thou  art 
the  man.  Sin  wounds  deeper  than  the  soldier's  nails  and 
spear. 


CALVARY   AND  ITS  VICTIM.  357 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 


ATONEMENT. 


Atonement  for  human  sin  by  the  sufferings  of  the  Sou 
of  God  is  the  doctrine  which  distinguishes  the  rehgion  of 
the  Bible  from  all  other  religions.  Of  course  this  doctrine 
has  then  been  prominent  in  all  the  ages;  atonement  by 
blood  probabl3'^  being  the  first  revelation  from  heaven  made 
after  the  fall  of  our  first  parents,  and  before  their  expul- 
sion from  Eden.  This  accounts  for  the  universal  prevalence 
of  bloody  sacrifices  from  the  remotest  antiquity;  as  de- 
rived from  the  immemorial  traditions  of  the  race.  While 
the  significance  of  the  ceremony  was  early  lost;  yet  the 
practice  of  sacrificial  rites  pervaded  the  world.  The  Bible 
furnishes  the  satisfactory  explanation  of  their  significance; 
this  form  of  worship  being  retained  after  its  meaning  had 
lapsed  from  the  memory  of  man. 

With  the  selection  of  Israel  as  the  chosen  nation,  this 
truth  was  made  the  central  orb,  about  which  all  their  in- 
stitutions were  arranged.  The  altar,  down  which  an  ever- 
lasting stream  of  new  and  living  blood  was  pouring,  and 
the  most  Holy  place,  in  which  the  only  offering  was  new 
and  living  blood,  were  the  arcana  of  Judaism.  The  long- 
succession  of  inspired  prophets  kept  the  subject  alive  ever, 
by  the  most  vivid  forecasts  of  the  coming  deliverer,  who, 
in  the  process  of  time,  would  ac(3oniplish  the  great  redemp- 
tion by  the  shedding  of  his  own  blood.  Ever  this  cardinal 
truth  has  been  made  prominent  above  all  else;  that  a  re- 
demption by  suffering  and  blood  would  in  the  fulness  of 
time  be  made,  by  which  the  results  following  transgression 
would  be  remedied ;  and  man  be  restored  to  the  favor  of 
an  offended  God.  From  the  many  passages  enjoining  an 
offering  typical  of  the  great  atoning  sacrifice,  we  select  the 
following,  as  describing  minutely  and  thoroughly  the  whole 
process  required  of  the  worshipper : 


358  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

"And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  sayino-;  If  a  soul  sin, 
and  commit  a  trespass  against  the  Lord,  and  lie  unto  his 
neighbor  in  that  Avhich  was  delivered  him  to  keep,  or  in 
fellowship,  or  in  a  thing  taken  away  by  violence,  or  hath 
deceived  his  neighbor;  or  have  found  that  which  was  lost, 
and  lieth  concerning  it,  and  sweareth  falsely;  in  any  of  all 
these  that  a  man  doeth,  sinning  therein;  then  it  shall  be 
because  he  hath  sinned,  and  is  guilty^  that  he  shall  restore 
that  which  he  took  violently  away,  or  the  thing  which  he 
hath  deceitfully  gotten,  or  that  which  was  delivered  him 
to  keep,  or  the  lost  thing  which  he  found,  or  all  that 
about  which  he  has  sworn  falsel^^;  he  shall  even  restore  it 
in  the  principal,  and  shall  add  the  fifth  part  more  thereto, 
and  give  it  unto  him  to  whom  it  appertaineth,  in  the  day 
of  his  trespass  offering.  And  he  shall  bring  his  trespass 
offering  unto  the  Lord,  a  ram  without  blemish  out  of  the 
flock,  with  thy  estimation,  for  a  trespass  offering  unto  the 
priest;  and  the  priest  shall  make  an  atonement  for  him  be- 
fore the  Lord;  and  he  shall  be  forgiven,  for  anything  of  all 
that  he  hath  done,  in  trespassing  therein." — Lev.  VI:  1-7. 

The  offender  contemplated  in  this  statute  is  a  truly  penitent 
man.  He  gives  good  evidence  of  this  by  his  voluntary  con- 
fession of  his  crime.  The  repetition  of  this  law  in  Dent,  con- 
tains an  additional  item,  deciding  to  whom  the  money  should 
be  paid,  in  case  of  the  decease  of  the  injured  party :  sho wing- 
that  this  law  had  reference  to  crimes  long  concealed,  and 
voluntarily  confessed.  The  law  for  the  detected  thief  was 
different,  requiring  repayment  of  five  oxen  for  an  ox,  and 
four  sheep  for  a  sheep.  The  man  described  in  this  enact- 
ment is  guilt}^  of  having  defrauded  his  neighbor  long  3'ears 
ago;  and  though  jjerhaps  suspected  at  the  time;  yet,  by 
dint  of  lying  and  swearing  falsely,  he  has  managed  to  allay 
susjncion,  and  to  retain  his  standing  in  society,  and  his 
reputation  as  an  honest  man ;  until  the  injured  neighbor  has 
passed  away.  The  growing  burden  upon  his  conscience  has 
in  the  meantime  become  past  endurance. 

Worn  with  a  secret,  which  has  long  been  consuming  his 
life,  he  at  length  makes  full  and  voluntary  confession  of 
his  sin,  aggravated  by  reiterated  falsehood  and  perjur}'. 
It  is  not  necessary  to    say,  that  men    will  endure  agonies, 


CALVARY  AND   ITS  VICTIM.  359 

before  they  will  confess;  and  that  guilty  secrets  are  not 
divulged,  until  death  unlocks  the  lips ;  and  often  are  carried 
unrevealed  to  the  grave.  The  mortification  of  discovery, 
and  the  consequent  scorn  of  the  world,  and  the  vindictive 
hatred  of  the  injured,  are  too  terrible  to  be  encountered  ; 
were  there  not  a  more  formidable  array  of  condemnation 
in  the  anticipated  doom  of  the  divine  judgment. 

This  transgressor,  urged  by  anguish  of  conscience,  at 
length  makes  confession  of  his  crime;  and  gives  another 
evidence  of  true  repentance,  b}^  full  restitution  to  the  in- 
jured part}^,  or  his  heirs,  or  to  the  priest;  in  case  that  they 
cannot  be  found.  He  restores  the  principal  and  adds  the 
fifth  part  more  thereto;  and  gives  it  to  him,  to  whom  it 
appertaineth.  He  is  thus  correcting  the  wrong  done  to  his 
fellow-man,  as  far  as  is  possible.  A  man  cannot  be  truly 
penitent,  and  retain  in  his  possession  that  which  of  right 
belongs  to  his  neighbor.  The  addition  of  a  fifth  part  more 
to  the  original  sum  would  be  a  sufficient  increment  among 
a  people,  who  were  not  allowed  to  exact  usury  of  one  an- 
other. Zaccheus,  in  the  freshness  of  his  new  obedience,  re- 
stored four-fold  like  a  convicted  thief;  nor  could  his  con- 
science be  quieted  with  less;  though  this  law,  w^hich  we  are 
considering,  was  framed  to  meet  such  cases  as  his.  In  cases 
of  restitution,  the  tendency  is  to  a  generous  abundance; 
rather  than  a  bare  equivalent.  Before  God  can  be  ap- 
proached, the  thief  must  disgorge  freely,  and  beyond  the 
bare  amount  due. 

He,  who  makes  humble  confession  and  full  reparafon, 
from  the  impulse  of  his  own  convictions,  gives  satisfactory 
evidence  of  sincere  and  genuine  repentance  for  the  wrong, 
of  which  he  has  been  guilty. 

The  offender  described  in  this  statute  was  then  a  sincere 
penitent;  but  was  he  forgiven  in  consideration  of  his  re- 
pentance? Human  law  has  no  longer  a  claim  against  him: 
nor  can  it  inflict  a  penalty  upon  him  in  anywise.  He  has 
nmde  all  right  with  his  neighbor,  and  thus  escapes  liability 
at  the  hand  of  civil  justice;  but  he  has  now  an  account  to 
settle  with  God,  at  the  bar  of  divine  justice.  The  stain  of 
sin  is  upon  his  soul;  the  law  of  God  has  been  violated.  One, 
w^ho  had  been  guilty  of  the  greatest  outrage  upon  his  fellow- 


360  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

man,  said:  "Against  thee,  even  thee  only  have  I  sinned ;  and 
done  this  evil  in  thy  sight."  AVrong  done  to  man  is  done 
against  God,  whose  law  is  not  advice,  which  a  man  may 
take  or  refuse  as  he  may  please.  Advice  is  advice,  which 
no  one  is  under  obligation  to  accept;  but  law  is  law,  and 
is  violated  at  peril. 

The  account  with  God  can  be  settled  with  blood  only. 
His  forgiveness  is  not  bestowed  because  the  transgressor 
sincerely  repents;  but  "the  priest  shall  make  an  atonement 
for  him;  and  it  shall  be  forgiven  him,  for  all  that  he  has 
done  sinning  therein." 

To  pardon  a  transgressor  in  consideration  of  his  sincere 
repentance  is  to  abandon  the  law  altogether.  When  an 
earthly  executive  issues  a  pardon  to  a  criminal  proved 
guilty  beyond  a  doubt,  if  the  evidence  has  been  fairly 
taken  and  considered,  he  is  setting  aside  the  law  and  mak- 
ing it  null  and  void;  and  doing  more  to  demoralize  society, 
than  the  guilt^^  criminal  has  done. 

How  many  regard  the  law  of  God  as  being  as  flexible  as 
the  laws  of  the  country !  which  Christ  declares  to  stand 
firmer  than  the  heaven  and  the  earth.  He,  who  disobeys 
it,  rushes  upon  the  thick  bosses  of  Jehovah's  buckler;  casts 
himself  under  the  w^heels  of  the  car,  on  which  the  throne  of 
the  divine  majesty  rests;  and  stands  a  pronounced  rebel 
against  the  Holy  God,  who  issues  no  pardon  of  transgres- 
sion, but  on  the  ground  of  satisfaction  to  the  stern  and 
inflexible  law. 

The  religion  of  the. Bible  has  demanded  the  same  compli- 
ances in  all  ages:  repentance  toward  God  and  faith  in  an 
atoning  Savior.  Relaxation  of  its  requirements  has  never 
been  made,  and  is  impossible.  It  is  the  same  in  all  time. 
All  the  light  to  be  gathered  from  the  Old  Testament  on 
this  subject  of  atonement,  is  to  be  found  in  the  considera- 
tion of  the  several- steps  commanded  for  the  making  the  re- 
quired offering. 

1.  The  animal  designated  for  the  altai-  was  a  lamb  of  a 
year  old ;  not  yet  mature.  It  was  the  animal  selected  on 
account  of  its  innocence,  being  thus  a  type  of  the  future 
Redeemer.  Unprovided  with  the  weapons  of  aggression  or 
means  of  escape,  it  relies  on  man  for  protection ;  and  flees 


CALVARY  AND  IT8   VICTIM.  361 

to  him  for  shelter  more  than  any  other  of  the  brute  crea- 
tion. The  dove  has  its  sharp  beak,  the  cow  its  formidable 
horns;  but  the  lamb  has  only  man  for  its  defence.  Hence 
it  properly  represents  innocence. 

And  then  it  is  unresisting.  The  bullock,  on  its  way  to 
the  altar  of  God,  often  became  furious  at  the  smell  of 
blood ;  and  resisting  with  loud  bellowings,  had  to  be  forced 
to  the  fatal  spot ;  but  the  little  lamb  willingly  followed  its 
master  to  the  bloody  altar;  and  yielded  up  its  life  without 
resistance.  This  is  true  of  no  other  animal  than  the  lamb, 
which  was  thus  a  picture  of  him,  who  "was  led  as  a  lamb 
to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep  dumb  before  its  shearers, 
so,  opened  he  not  his  mouth.'' 

But  the  chief  reason  for  its  selection  was  the  tie  that  ex- 
isted between  it  and  its  master.  An  affection  for  brutes  is 
not  unworthy  of  humanity.  The  horse  and  the  dog  are 
often  regarded  with  evident  love  among  the  most  cultivated 
nations  of  the  day ;  they  were  both  forbidden  to  the  Isra- 
elite ;  and  the  lamb  became  the  recipient  of  the  attachment 
of  a  pastoral  people,  as  might  be  expected. 

The  animal  without  blemish  and  without  spot  was  a 
privileged  inmate  of  the  tent,  the  playmate  of  the  children, 
delighting  them  with  its  gambols,  and  partaking  with  them 
of  their  cheer.  Possessed  of  the  most  delicate  auditory  pro- 
vision, it  knew  the  voice  of  its  master;  and  could  never  be 
deceived  by  any  imitation  of  sound  from  a  stranger;  but 
recognizing  his  call  at  all  times,  bounded  to  the  shepherd, 
whenever  he  approached.  What  a  picture  of  pastoral  life 
is  presented  in  Nathan's  parable  to  David!  "The  poor 
man  had  nothing  save  one  little  ewe  lamb,  which  did  eat 
of  his  meat,  and  drank  of  his  cup,  and  lay  in  his  bosom, 
and  was  unto  him  as  a  daughter,"  No  society  for  the 
suppression  of  cruelty  to  animals  was  needed  among  the 
Israelites;  the  law  of  Closes  required  the  greatest  kindness 
to  the  brutes.  "Thou  shalt  not  seethe  a  kid  in  its  mother's 
milk,"  "When  thou  findest  a  bird's  nest  by  the  way;  thou 
mayest  take  unto  thee  the  young;  but  thou  shalt  not  take 
unto  thee  the  dam,"  are  instances.  The  Jew  loved  his  little 
lamb  exceptionally;  and  therefore  God  chose  it  for  the  animal 
of  sacrifice. 


362  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

Imagine  now  the  scene  at  an  atonement.  Impelled  b^' 
intolerable  remorse,  the  offender  has  confessed  a  crime  of 
lono-  ago;  and  knowing  that  God,  in  order  to  its  forgive- 
ness, requires  the  sacrifice  of  a  life,  takes  the  perfect  animal 
for  a  victim.  He  has  to  tear  it  away  from  the  embraces  of 
the  children ;  and  leads  it  off  amid  the  weeping  farewells  of 
the  family.  No  stain  of  guilt  is  upon  the  lamb ;  yet  it  is  to 
die  for  sin  not  its  own.  An  innocent  being  is  to  suffer  in 
the  stead  of  the  guilty.  The  owner  is  saying  to  himself,  I 
am  the  offender;  God  might  Justly  requii-e  mj'  life;  but 
graciously  accepts  another  life  in  the  place  of  mine.  This  sub- 
stitution became  very  evident  as  the  ceremony  progressed. 

Next,  the  offender  was  required  to  confess  his  sin  publicly : 
while  his  hand  rested  on  the  head  of  the  lamb.  All  the 
particulars  of  the  misdeed  were  honestly  and  truly  recited : 
the  opportunity,  the  temptation,  the  secresy,  the  inward 
contest,  the  final  determination,  the  crime,  the  subsequent 
falsehood,  and  the  perjury.  Every  step  was  humbly  and 
sorrowfully  published:  and  during  the  whole  of  this  con- 
fession, the  hand  was  on  the  head  of  the  victim.  The  little 
animal  Ib^'  no  means  threw  off  its  master's  hand,  which  had 
often  fondled  and  fed  it. 

The  penitent  with  many  tears  divulged  his  guilt,  adopt- 
ing the  words  of  some  devotional  portion  of  the  word  of 
God:  acknowledging  that  the  sword  of  divine  justice  might 
properly  cut  him  down;  and  that  the  fire  unquenchable  of 
the  divine  wrath  might  consume  him;  but  praying  that 
God  would  accept  instead  the  life  being  offered.  While  the 
words  were  on  his  fips,  [that  God's  justice  might  strike  him, 
and  his  wrath,  like  fire  consume  him,]  the  knife  of  the  priest 
struck  the  unresisting  lamb;  and  it  was  prepared  for  the 
fire.  Precisely  what  the  man  had  confessed  might  befall 
himself,  befell  the  lamb.  The  fire  on  the  altar  was  the 
emblem  of  the  eternal  fire,  having  been  kindled  from  heaven 
in  the  wilderness,  and  burning  for  centuries  without  ex- 
tinction. Korah  and  his  company  perished  for  the  crime 
of  using  other  fire,  than  the  fire  of  God. 

Under  the  guise  of  this  simple  ceremony  were  veiled  the 
great  doctrines  of  imputation  and  substitution.  The  laying 
on    of    hands    was    understood  to  iiiq)ly  that  in  the  act, 


CALVAUY   AND   ITS   VICTIM.  363 

something*  was  communicated  from  the  principal  to  the 
recipient :  as  when  the  Holy  Ghost  was  given  in  the  laying 
on  of  hands,  and  as  when  Jacob  blessed  the  sons  of  Joseph 
by  laying  on  of  hands.  In  this  case  the  guilt  in  the  sense 
of  liability  to  punishment  wa«  considered  as  passing  over 
from  the  transgressor  to  the  victim :  and  the  lamb,  assum- 
ing the  guilt  of  the  crime,  was  treated  as  the  offending 
party. 

The  actual  criminality  belongs  ever  to  the  culprit  himself, 
and  cannot  be  transferred.  Under  the  administration  of 
Jehovah,  the  liability  to  suffering  and  punishment  can  be 
shifted.  The  phraseology  of  the  Bible  is  not  that  our  sins 
were  imputed  to  Christ ;  but  that  they  were  laid  upon  him : 
an  expression  evidently  derived  from  this  ceremony  and 
equivalent  to  imputed.  The  lamb  was  regarded  as  a  substi- 
tute for  the  criminal:  and  could  it  have  spoken,  might  have 
said,  my  dear  master  I  willinglj^  die  for  thee  and  in  thy  stead: 
thy  life  is  required,  and  I  surrender  mine  in  place  of  thine. 

As  its  body  quivered  in  the  agonies  of  death,  the  trans- 
gressor could  but  feel:  this  fearful  doom  I  had  merited; 
but  God  accepts  another  life  in  place  of  the  one  I  have  for- 
feited. As  its  body  was  cast  into  the  fire  of  the  altar,  the 
master  could  but  feel,  this  doom  was  justly  mine;  but  God 
has  appointed  another  to  endure  it  in  m3^  place.  They 
knew  as  well  as  we,  that  the  blood  of  bulls  and  goats 
could  never  take  away  sin;  and  that  these  offerings  were 
but  pictures  of  the  great  atoning  offering  to  be  made  in 
the  future.  Probably  no  Jew  ever  went  through  this  cere- 
mony without  tears ;  to  do  otherwise  than  weep  seems  quite 
impossible. 

This  whole  ceremony  in  all  its  parts  was  an  affecting- 
representation  of  the  work  of  Jesus  Christ,  cut  off  in  his 
young  manhood ;  slain  by  men ;  but  offered  and  consumed 
in  the  fire  of  the  divine  wrath;  and  suffering  for  the  sins 
of  man  imputed  to  him,  or  laid  upon  him,  the  sinless  one. 
Such  was  the  only  service,  by  which  God  could  be  ap- 
I)roached :  the  only  worship  he  would  receive. 

It  is  contained  in  this  delineation  of  the  work  of  Christ ; 
that  he  suffered  the  identical  curse  which  man  would  have 
undergone;    had  the   judgment  fallen    upon    him.     This  is 


364  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

the  unqnestionable  truth.  Our  Lord  was  incapable  of  re- 
morse, despair  or  selfish  rage  and  fury,  which  the  lost  are 
represented  as  experiencing ;  but  these  are  not  the  penalty 
of  God's  law;  they  ai-e  but  its  adjuncts  and  results.  The 
dire  penalty  due  to  man  for  his  sin,  the  curse  of  God  Jesus 
endured :  he  drank  the  very  cup  prepared  for  us.  The  very 
sword,  that  should  have  smitten  us,  smote  him  ;  the  con- 
suming fire  of  God's  vengeance  kindled  upon  him. 

This  institution  is  as  old  as  the  fall  of  man,  and  came 
down  from  Eden.  Cain  rejected  the  bloody  offering,  and 
placed  upon  his  altar  his  pyramid  of  grain,  surrounded  by 
clusters  of  the  most  luscious  fruits,  and  adorned  with  flow- 
ers in  wreaths,  and  crowns,  and  harps,  and  put  no  fire 
under.  Abel  also  put  no  fire  under  his  bloody  sacrifice. 
God  refused  the  offering  of  Cain:  the  fire  fell  from  heaven 
upon  Abel's.  No  confession  of  dependence,  no  acknowledg- 
ment of  mercies  received,  and  of  gratitude  due  will  God  re- 
ceive as  acceptable  worship.  His  worship  consists  in  the 
humble  acknowledgment  of  sin,  and  hope  in  the  blood  of  a 
crucified  Redeemer. 

Jesus  is  called  the  lamb  in  the  writings  of  Peter  and 
Paul  and  John ;  and  no  less  than  twenty-seven  times  in 
the  one  book  of  Revelation.  He  is  said  to  bear  our 
sins,  which  can  only  mean,  that  he  bore  the  punishment 
due  to  us  for  our  sins;  which  is  the  sense  of  the  phrase 
throughout  the  books  of  Moses.  His  death  is  called  a 
sacrifice;  and  we  are  said  to  be  saved  by  his  blood-shed- 
ding and  death.  To  this  view  agrees  the  otherwise  inex- 
plicable fact  of  his  unparalleled  mental  sufferinti;. 

We  learn  the  depth  and  intensitj^  of  those  sufferings  from 
the  prodigies  which  attended  his  death.  The  sun  had  risen 
as  usual,  and  shone  with  its  ordinary  vernal  brightness. 
No  eclipse  was  possible  at  the  passover  moon.  The  fury 
of  men  had  done'its  work ;  and  their  victim  had  been  hung 
amid  unexampled  insults  upon  the  cross.  For  three  hours 
taunt  and  mockery  had  swept  over  him  like  a  tempest; 
but  at  its  mei'idian  height  the  sun  lost  its  light;  until  the 
obscurity  was  probably  like  the  gloom  of  a  total  eclipse; 
and  a  pall  of  mourning  overspread  the  whole  land :  not 
from    any    intervening   body   cutting   off   its   beams.     No 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  365 

natural  cause  existed,  to  which  the  effect  could  be  ascribed. 
For  three  hours  this  darkness  prevailed;  as  though  the 
machinery  of  nature  were  dissolving;  and  it  plainly  sug- 
gested such  a  catastrophe. 

At  the  instant  of  his  loud  cry  and  death,  a  groan  came 
from  the  caverns  of  the  quaking  earth,  than  which  was 
never  sound  more  appalling;  resulting  from  the  simultane- 
ous rending  of  the  mighty  ledges  of  rock  around  the  city. 
This  was  no  ordinar3^  earthquake.  Such  frequently  open 
fissures  in  the  ground,  and  displace  mighty  rocks;  but 
never  rend  them.  A  rock  can  be  easily  split  along  the  lines 
of  its  natural  seams;  only  a  supernatural  force  can  rend  it. 

Men  groan  and  rend  their  garments  in  overwhelming- 
grief.  Such  mourning  to  our  Jesus  w^as  refused  ;  but  inani- 
mate nature  groaned;  sohd  rocks  were  rent;  and  the  guilty 
city  quaked  with  a  vibration,  whose  force  was  expended 
chiefly  upon  the  temple.  Its  strong  and  heavy  veil  was 
torn  from  the  top  to  the  bottom ;  the  doors  of  tombs  were 
wrenched  open;  and  the  bones  of  saints  moved  on  their 
stony  beds. 

Various  notices  have  come  down  to  us  of  supernatural 
omens  connected  with  the  destruction  of  the  holy  house : 
the  diverse  accounts  are  doubtless  all  founded  on  what  oc- 
curred in  this  memorable  hour.  How  must  the  hearts  of 
the  guilty  perpetrators  have  beaten  hard;  as  they  marked 
the  waning  light!  What  a  check  was  then  put  to  the 
taunt  and  blasphemy,  that  had  raged  like  a  beating  storm! 
The  centurion  in  charge  felt  that  these  portents  were  con. 
nected  with  the  death  of  the  sinless  one;  as  did  those  who 
had  gone  out  to  gaze;  and  returned,  smiting  on  their 
breasts.  Not  only  did  the  earth  quake;  it  may  be  that  the 
throne  of  God  above  was  shaken;  and  that  heaven  was 
paralyzed  with  wonder.  One  scene  will  stand  fresh  as  yes- 
terday in  the  memory  of  saints  and  angels,  to  all  eternity : 
the  scene  of  Calvary. 

The  agony,  which  produced  the  death  sweat  in  Gethse- 
mane  prevailed  with  an  increased  intensit}^  during  the  hours 
of  darkness ;  and  at  length  ruptured  the  walls  of  the  aching- 
he  art;  and  terminated  the  life.  This  horror  of  suffering  is 
to  us  inexplicable;  but  on  the  theory  of  atonement  for  sin. 


366  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

Angelic  ministration  had  been  eraplo^^ed  to  reinforce  the 
failing-  body,  and  to  support  it  through  the  coming  ordeal. 
In  the  few  instances,  in  which  a  distant  resemblance  has 
been  observed  to  this  sweat  of  blood ;  death  has  immedi- 
ately supervened.  The  Savior's  life  was  prolonged  ;  until  he 
could  say    "it  is  finished.'" 

Nature  sympathizes  with  God  only.  When  the  soul  of 
man  is  crushed  with  grief,  the  only  material  object  which 
shows  sympathy,  is  the  body,  over  which  it  has  the  control, 
which  trembles,  weeps,  and  faints;  feeling  the  disturbance 
of  its  fluids,  and  the  throbbing  of  its  vital  organs.  When 
Jesus  suffered  and  died,  universal  nature  responded  in  sympa- 
thy b^^  signs  unmistakable.  The  earth  shuddered  and 
groaned ;  and  the  sun  covered  its  face.  The  pageant  of 
gloom  gave  no  impression  unwarranted  by  the  fact.  The 
darkness  that  prevailed  was  an  emblem  of  the  deep  anguish 
of  his  soul:  the  trembling  earth  and  rending  rocks  appro- 
priatelj'^  designated  the  horrors  of  the  deed  then  being  en- 
acted. The3'  were  no  wonders  in  comparison.  The}^  were 
but  minor  and  inconsiderable  circumstances;  the  astound- 
ing fact  was  the  death  of  the  Son  of  God  for  sin  imputed 
to  the  sinless.  In  these  prodigies  there  was  no  exaggerated 
discription.  When  did  immaculate  truth  do  anything  for 
mere  effect? 

The  cross  throws  a  new  light  on  the  character  of  our  God; 
and  demonstrates  the  tenderness  of  his  love.  Love  is  shown 
to  be  the  essence  of  his  divinity,  the  impulsive  power  of  his 
nature,  the  soul  o''  his  attributes,  the  true  inwardness  of 
his  being.  Mercy  is  love  in  the  most  soul-subduing  form, 
the  human  soul  can  conceive.  Wonder  at  the  infinities  of 
his  nature,  the  immensity  of  his  works,  and  at  his  illimiti- 
able  presence  ceases;  the  whole  soul  is  absorbed  in  the 
greater  wonder  of  his  love.  Did  sin  pursue  Jesus  to  death, 
and  strike  him  to  the  heart?  He,  who  gives  it  place  in  his 
affections,  is  reenacting  the  scene  of  Calvary. 

As  we  gaze  upon  the  scene  of  the  crucifixion,  the  actors 
of  that  age  vanish;  the  un-believing  Jew  and  the  cruel 
Roman  fade  from  the  view;  thei-e  remain  the  cross,  the 
nails,  and  the  spear;  the  lonely  sufferer  monopolizes  our  at- 
tention.    The  mockerv  still  rings;  and  it  is  our  lips  that 


CALVARY   AND   ITS   VICTIM.  367 

have  mocked :  it  is  onrseh'es  that  are  arrayed  against 
bleeding  purity  and  love.  The  sight  of  him  dying  by  our 
sin,  yet  loving  us  still,  and  praying:  "Father,  forgive  them; 
they  know  not  what  they  do,"  subdues  our  enemity,  con- 
victs us  not  only  of  sin;  but  also  of  righteousness:  and  of 
judgment:  for  a  tribunal  is  immediately  erected  within  us; 
and  the  decisions  of  the  great  day  are  pronounced.  When 
we  trust  in  him  as  our  righteousness,  our  souls  enter  into 
a  new  life  of  hope  and  joy  and  zeal.  Angels  are  confirmed 
in  immutable  obedience,  and  bound  in  the  chains  of  undy- 
ing love  by  the  atoning  death;  and  shall  not  we  be  affected 
by  it  to  a  responsive  love:  we,  for  whom  his  blood  was 
shed  ? 

From  this  ancient  institution,  we  learn  with  what  feelings 
we  are  to  come  to  the  cross  of  Christ:  the  same  which 
brought  the  Jew  to  the  temple  and  the  altar  of  God.  We 
are  to  approach  with  spontaneous  and  full  confession  of 
our  sin,  making  to  men  all  reparation  in  our  power;  with 
profound  sorrow  and  shame  on  account  of  it;  and  with  our 
lamb.  If  Jesus  died  for  sinners,  he  died  for  us  personally 
and  as  individuals;  and  we  may  call  him  our  lamb,  and 
lay  our  hands  upon  his  head,  in  a  true  faith;  that  his 
blood  avails  for  us  personally.  Be  not  afraid  to  approach; 
venture  your  hands  upon  his  head;  refuse  not  to  believe 
and  trust  in  him;  for  in  so  refusing,  you  grieve  and  dis- 
honor him  more  than  you  have  done,  by  all  the  accumu- 
lated sin  of  a  long  life. 


368  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


A  VIEW  OF  HIS  SUFFERINGS, 


For  I  delivered  unto  you  first  of  ali  tliat  wliicti  I  also  received, 
how  that  Christ  died  for  our  sins  according  to  the  Scriptures.  1 
Cor.  15:  3. 

Paul  is  stating'  the  truth  which  was  most  prominent  in 
his  preaching.  The  primarj'  and  central  fact  was  that 
''Christ  died  for  our  sins:"  a  fact  which  comprehended  the 
whole  gospel.  He  preached  "Christ  and  him  crucified.'' 
He  not  only  so  taught  the  churches;  but  his  own  soul  so 
received  Christ  as  the  foundation  of  his  hope,  the  comfort 
of  his  sorrows,  and  the  centre  of  his  thoughts.  All  the 
motives  which  aroused  him,  and  which  he  presented  to  the 
churches  to  stimulate  to  zeal,  to  self-denial,  to  patient  sub- 
mission are  drawn  from  the  cross.  It  held  in  his  mind 
such  a  place,  that  he  might  be  said  to  know  nothing  else. 
This  great  truth,  so  abhorent  to  all  the  prejudices  of  the 
Jew,  so  foolish  in  the  estimation  of  the  rationalistic  Greek, 
he  further  states  to  have  been  according  to  the  Scriptures 
of  the  Old  Testament,  It  had  been  revealed  more  or  less 
fully  from  the  creation  of  the  world,  by  verbal  predictions, 
and  by  typical  representation. 

The  types  all  prefigured  a  suffering  Messiah.  The  offer- 
ings for  sin  had  from  the  time  of  Abel  been  bloody  sacri- 
fices. It  was  a  principle  in  the  Levitical  institution,  that 
"without  shedding  of  blood  is  no  remission."  Every  offer- 
ing for  sin  confessed  was  an  offering  of  the  blood  and  of 
the  whole  animal  by  fire.  The  fire  was  never  extinct  upon 
the  altar,  and  the  knife  of  the  priest  never  dry  through  a 
day.  The  teaching  of  the  holy  rites  was,  that  sin  could  be 
atoned  by  blood  only;  blood  morning  and  evening,  blood 
when  individual  penitents  made  confession,  blood  fiowing 
like  water  at  every  great  feast  and  special  occasion.  The 
altar  ran  incessantly  with  blood,  like  a  wine  press.    If  the 


CALVARY  A\D  ITS  VICTIM.  369 

ceremonial  of  the  temple  was  capable  of  teaching- an vthino- 
It  certainly  indicated  this  great  truth,  that  "without  shed- 
<\mg  of  blood  is  no  remission."  Apprised  as  the  offerers 
were  of  the  inefficacy  of  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  o-oats 
they  were  directed  to  a  great  offering-  to  be  made  hi  the 
fiiture  by  the  shedding  of  blood  that  should  really  atone 
That  men  should,  prior  to  their  accomplishment,  misinter- 
pret minor  circumstances  connected  with  the  types  is  not 
strang-e;  but  that  they  should  fail  to  appreciate  the  great 
underlying  principle  of  the  ceremonial  is  truly  wonderful 

So  the  verbal  predictions  of  the  coming  Savior,  while  they 
contained  the  most  glorious  announcements  of  the  majestV 
and  glory  of  his  kingdom,  had  quite  plainly  indicated  his 
rejection  and  cruel  sufferings.    While  the  harp  of  prophecv 
had  sounded  in  the  most  triumphant  strains  the  grandeur 
and  extent  of  his  dominion  ;  it  had,  in  the  very  midst  of 
Its  loftiest  notes,  dropped  to  a  mysterious  underplaint  of 
woe,  and  the  accompaniment  of  a  death  dirge.    The  stone 
was  to  be  "set  at  naught  of  the  builders;"  the  Christ  was  to 
be    "one  whom  the  nation    abhorreth;"  whom  the  rulers 
treated  as  a  slave;  he  was  to  be  "despised  and  reiected 
and  cut    off,   but  not   for  himself."     His  death  for  sin  is 
graphically  described  by  Isaiah;  and  the  scene  of  his  suffer 
ing  circumstancially  depicted  in  the  twenty-second  Psalm 
But  a  veil  was  over  the  eyes  of  the  readers 

The  principal  object  of  the  types  was  to  present  him  to 
view  in  his  humiliation  and  sufferings.  He  was  to  be  a 
man  of  no  appearance,  a  meek  and  unresisting  sufferer  like 
the  little  lamb;  but  there  were  in  the  types  intimations  of 
his  immense  worth  and  importance  also.  They  represented 
him  as  the  Father's  Isaac,  the  object  of  his  whole  affection- 
he  was  typified  also  by  the  high  priest  clothed  in  sacred 
robes  and  the  incumbent  of  the  highest  office  in  the  nation 
The  Messiah  ^^'as  to  be  of  no  reputation  and  a  man  of 
sorrows,  and  at  the  same  time  the  most  exalted  beino-  in 
the  umverse.  Jesus  Christ  is  the  maker  of  worlds;  and'yet 
a  man,  a  man  of  no  appearance.  Worlds  are  scattered 
around  his  throne  like  [glittering  dust;  yet  to  him  their 
value,  m  comparison  of  a  single  soul,  is  nothino- 


24 


370  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

How  strange  that  the  great  Creator,  the  infinite  and  il- 
limitable spirit,  should  take  into  inseparable  connection 
with  himself  our  poor  humanity!  There  is  nothing  won- 
derful beside.  Everything  connected  with  the  man  Christ 
Jesus  was  wonderful,  his  miracles,  his  teachings;  but  noth- 
ing so  wonderful  as  himself.  The  miracle  was  not  so 
strange;  as  the  mingled  majesty'  and  humility  of  the  mys- 
terious being,  whose  word  accomplished  it.  The  lustre  of 
his  teachings  outshone  the  works;  but  the  great  object  of 
admiration  was  himself.  Methinks  spectators  turned  away 
their  eyes  from  the  sheeted  deed  standing  at  the  door  of 
the  open  tomb,  to  scan  the  quiet  majesty  of  the  lord  of 
life.  A  sight  of  him  without  a  miracle  was  enough  to  ago- 
nize Pilate,  and  to  convince  the  dying  thief  to  his  soul's 
eternal  joy.  That  angels  should  sing  at  his  birth  is  not 
the  wonder,  but  that  he  should  be  born.  The  darkened 
heavens  and  trembling  earth  at  his  death  were  not  a  won- 
der: the  wonder  was  that  a  being,  possessed  of  power  to 
control  all  things,  should  suffer  at  all.  The  wonder  Avas 
the  majesty,  the  patience,  the  love  of  the  holy  victim.  God- 
head was  stamped  upon  his  brow:  holiness  shone  his 
features.  Prophets,  when  unusually  faithful,  had  excited 
the  hatred  of  a  few :  Elijah  was  hated  by  Ahab  and  Jeze- 
bel ;  John  the  Baptist  was  hated  by  Herodias :  Christ  was 
hated  by  the  world.  The  opposition,  which  the  holiest 
prophets  met,  was  nothing  to  that  which  rose  against 
him.  A  clear  and  vivid  revelation  of  the  holiness  of  God 
is  sometimes  follc;^ed  by  an  ebullition  of  angy  opposition, 
as  is  often  seen  during  a  revival  of  religion,  was  terribly' 
exhibited  at  the  foot  of  Sinai,  and  more  dreadfully  still 
when  Jesus  moved  among  men. 

I.  In  contemplating  his  suffering,  it  may  be  said,  that 
there  arose  partly  from  the  naalice  of  Satan.  While  the 
world  was  at  peace  at  the  time  of  the  advent,  and  in  the 
posture  of  attention;  angels  good  and  bad  never  frequented 
it  so  much.  More  than  twelve  legions  Avere  beholding  the 
strange  scene  of  the  arrest  at  the  gate  of  Gethsemaue, 
eager  to  look  into  these  things.  Satan  was  permitted  to 
exercise  more  power  than  ever  before  on  earth,  with  full 
liberty  to  assault  the  holy  sufferer  by  temptation.    He  was 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  371 

unchained,  that  the  ages  might  see  Em  manners  victory 
over  him.  A  contest  was  in  progress  between  the  seed  of 
the  woman,  and  the  old  serpent  the  devil,  who  was  to  be 
permitted  to  bruise  his  heel,  at  the  cost  of  the  crushing  of 
his  own  head.  Of  course  this  spiritual  conflict  did  not 
come  within  the  scope  of  human  observation;  but  never 
were  the  powers  of  evil  more  active:  it  was  "their  hour, 
and  the  power  of  darkness." 

The  temptations  of  the  evil  one  are  called  fiery  darts 
from  the  arrows  with  ignited  combustibles  attached  which 
were  used  in  order  to  burn  the  intrenchments  of  enemies. 
These  satanic  suggestions  are  shot  like  darts;  and  stick 
rankling  and  inflaming  our  susceptible  souls;  though  we 
may  at  first  abhor  them.  Shot  out  against  Christ,  they 
found  nothing  capable  of  being  inflamed ;  they  did  not 
even  stick.  But  what  humiliation  for  him  to  be  obliged 
to  listen  to  the  foul  whispers  of  the  enemy!  "He  suffered 
being  tempted.''  With  what  energy  was  it  alleged  by  the 
tempter,  that  men  spurned  his  interference  on  their  behalf; 
that  they  desired  no  reconciliation  with  their  offended 
maker;  that  they  were  ready  to  murder  the  messenger  of 
peace;  and  desired  no  lighter  doom  than  devils;  that  undue 
pa.rtialit^^  was  being  shown  for  men,  who  were  as  ungrate- 
ful and  unworthy  as  the  lost  angels  themseh'es;  that  all 
who  have  sinned  should  be  left  to  perish  together! 

And  then  Satan  assailed  the  Lord  Jesus  by  the  hands  of 
men.  He  has  often  raged  against  the  church,  and  en- 
deavored by  fire  and  sword  to  destroy  the  last  one  called 
by  the  name  of  Jesus.  With  tireless  zeal  he  has  dictated 
persecutions,  until  he  has  almost  succeeded  in  quenchino- 
the  fire  of  godliness  in  seas  of  blood.  And  if  he  has  taken 
any  respite,  it  has  been  only  to  prepare  fouler  devices;  and 
under  the  assumed  garb  of  a  friend,  to  steal  into  the  in- 
closure  of  God's  people,  and  strangle  reviving  Christianity 
if  possible  in  its  very  cradle. 

But  all  his  rage  against  the  church  has  been  nothino- 
compared  with  what  it  was  against  the  holy  son  of  God. 
He  then  came  down  with  great  power  and  fell  like  light- 
ning from  heaven.  The  hatred  of  the  Jewish  people  against 
him  was  satanic  rather  than  human.    The  world  is  aston- 


372  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

ished  at  its  vehemence.  There  was  never  the  like  spectacle 
on  earth.  The  human  bosom  may  have  swelled  with  equal 
rage  in  isolated  cases:  but  how  came  it  to  pass  that  his 
chosen  friends  were  "offended  because  of  him/'  that  none 
were  found  to  stand  by  him ;  that  pity  seemed  extinct  in 
his  oppressors ;  and  the  rejection  of  his  own  people  was  so 
unrelenting?  The  bloody  duelist  will  feel  his  anger  miti- 
gated at  once  by  the  sight  of  his  bleeding  victim;  the 
murderer  regrets  his  act  the  next  instant;  but  the  hatred 
of  Jesus  knew  no  compassion;  was  incapable  of  a  tear; 
grew  more  dreadful  to  the  last.  Ah!  there  was  the  malice 
of  hell  united  with  the  rage  of  men.  My  God!  was  it  not 
enough  for  men  to  hate?  Why  were  the  raging  fiends  from 
the  dai-k  world  of  despair  at  liberty  to  heap  unmitigated 
torment  upon  him?  He  was  made  to  endure  all  that  a 
sensitive  nature  could  endure;  and  it  was  for  us.  It  ma^' 
be  that  he  might  have  atoned  had  the  inward  tempta- 
tions been  spared ;  but  he  chose  to  endure  ever3^  anguish 
possible  to  humanity. 

II.  His  suffering  came  partly  from  the  treatment  of 
men.  Greater  were  never  inflicted  upon  the  vilest  of  the 
vile.  "His  visage  was  more  marred  than  any  man's;  and 
his  form  more  than  the  sons  of  men.''  It  is  not  an  exag- 
gerated statement  of  man,  but  the  solemn  declaration  of 
ins])iration;  that  the  foulest  crimes,  and  the  most  detesta- 
ble character  never  brought  down  upon  a  guilty  head  any- 
thing like  the  treatment  that  Jesus  experienced;  and  all 
because  he  was  holy.  The  nation  could  endure  impious 
ISIauesseh;  they  could  cordially  salute  adulterous  Herod; 
they  could  overlook  the  crimes  of  Barabbas;  they  could 
shake  hands  with  the  traitor  Judas;  but  the  holy  Jesus 
they  hated.  They  had  no  abhorrence  of  sin;  they  could 
endure  the  perpetrators  of  the  vilest  crimes.  Oh!  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  liadst  tliou  but  been  a  sinner,  the  world  had 
had  nothing  against  thee.  The  indignities  which  were  heaped 
upon  him  in  the  council  chamber,  came  not  from  i-uflians 
of  the  lower  class.  The  senators  could  not  wait  until  he 
was  legally  condenmed,  before  they  mocked.  At  first  a  ser- 
vant of  the  high  ])riest  ventured  to  strike  him;  and  when 
it  became  plain,  that  such  a  liberty  could  be  taken  with 


(7ALVARY  AND  ITS    VICTIM.  873 

impunity,  the  aged  and  venerable  priests  and  elders  joined 
with  the  servants,  and  emulated  their  vulgar  and  coarse 
eruelt^^  All  decorum  was  forgotten:  they  coolly  stood  be- 
fore him,  and  spat  upon  him  as  long  as  they  could  discharge 
the  foulness  of  their  throats  into  his  face. 

This  was  no  excitement  of  sudden  anger;  but  the  delib- 
erate expression  of  a  scorn  and  hatred  that  had  been  long 
growing,  and  was  too  big  for  words.  When  all  this  failed 
to  discompose  him,  they  could  not  refrain  from  buffeting 
him,  covering  his  face  and  saying:  "Prophesy  unto  us, 
thou  Christ,  who  is  he  that  smote  thee?"  Was  ever  such 
a  scene  enacted  in  the  highest  court  of  a  civilized  people 
and  by  the  judges  themselves?" 

Herod  with  his  men  of  war  set  him  at  naught.  It  is  as- 
tonishing that  the  prince  should  permit  such  conduct  in 
his  presence;  and  utterly  past  wonder  that  he  should  himself 
set  the  example,  and  encourage  a  treatment  so  unbefitting 
royalty.  He  evidently  felt  the  scorpion  sting  in  his  own 
bosom;  and  was  gratifying  personal  re>sentment.  This  scene 
demonstrates,  that  the  scorn  of  the  son  of  God  was  not 
confined  to  individuals,  or  to  classes,  but  was  general. 

Pilate,  free  from  Jewish  antipathies,  and  therefore  an  im- 
partial judge,  seems  to  have  had  a  keener  intuition,  and 
more  conscience  than  Herod  and  the  council.  He  did  not 
suppose  him  to  be  a  pretender;  he  knew  him  to  be  inno- 
cent of  wrong,  and  anything  but  a  disturber.  Yet  Pilate 
scourged  his  delicate  and  supersensitive  prisoner  with  the 
fearful  Roman  scourge,  and  condemned  him  to  die  a  capi- 
tal death,  all  the  while  protesting:  "I  find  in  him  no  fault 
at  all."  He  did  it  indeed  reluctantly,  and  with  the  greatest 
misgivings;  but  he  delivered  him  to  be  crucified  against 
the  warnings  of  heaven. 

The  soldiers  in  the  hall  of  Pilate  followed  the  example 
set  by  Herod;  and  arrayed  him  in  a  royal  robe,  and  put 
a  crown  upon  his  head,  a  crown  of  thorns:  and  a  sceptre 
in  his  hand,  a  sceptre  of  reed;  and  then  went  through  the 
farce  of  swearing  allegiance  to  him  on  the  bended  knee. 
It  was  moi"e  than  mockery;  for  they  smote  in  the  thorns 
upon  his  brow,  until  he  was  a  king  anointed  with  blood. 


374  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

Vain  was  the  effort  to  overcome  him  by  shame,  or  to  soil 
the  incomparable  majesty'  of  his  countenance. 

Crucifixion  was  a  Roman  punishment;  but  a  Roman  was 
never  suffered  to  undergo  it.  It  was  certainly  invented  in 
the  most  barbarous  age.  It  comprised  more  of  torture 
and  ignominy'  than  any  other  mode  of  execution.  The  first 
method  of  its  infliction  was  by  means  of  a  tree,  having  two 
lateral  branches  of  the  proper  spread  and  angle,  to  which 
the  miserable  victim  was  attached  by  means  of  sufficiently 
large  iron  spikes  driven  .through  the  extended  hands  and 
feet.  The  less  the  injury  to  these  most  sensitive  parts,  the 
more  protracted  the  agony  of  dissolution.  No  vigorous 
man  can  keep  his  arms  thus  elevated  for  more  than  a  very 
few  minutes,  without  becoming  sensible  of  the  most  ex- 
hausting fatigue  in  the  attempt.  Moses,  on  the  day  of  the 
conflict  with  Amalek,  could  not  keep  a  single  arm  stretched 
out  and  upward  toward  heaven.  Aaron  and  Hur  seated 
him  upon  a  stone,  and  by  their  own  main  strength  sus- 
tained the  ever  drooping  hand,  which  held  the  rod  of  God 
pointed  towards  the  sky. 

When  both  arms  are  thus  outstretched,  and  confined  by 
spikes  in  this  unnatural  extension,  the  sufferer  soon  begins 
to  feel  from  this  one  source  alone  an  unutterable  weari- 
ness. When  in  addition  the  feet  are  pinioned  to  the  tree 
by  irons  w  hich  pierce  their  tender  substance  through,  these 
are  the  most  painful  wounds  that  a  human  body  can  re- 
ceive; as  was  abundantly'  proved  b^-  the  experience  of 
those  who  in  the  war  were  shot  through  the  foot.  The 
necessity  of  supporting  the  whole  weight  upon  them  never- 
theless, the  unavoidable  and  ever  increasing  laceration  of 
the  sensitive  tissues  of  the  feet,  produce  an  agony  which 
grows  and  grows  with  every  hour  to  be  well  nigh  insup- 
portable. To  this  ever  increasing  torment  is  to  be  added 
the  impossibility  of  any  change  of  position.  The  slightest 
change  would  be  a  rest;  but  not  one  instant  of  rest  was 
attainable  by  any  shifting  of  the  weight  of  the  body.  Suf- 
ferers on  downj'  couches  complain  of  weariness,  and  are 
relieved  by  change.  To  the  crucified,  no  relief,  no  interval 
without  pain  existed. 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  375 

Another  cause  of  terrible  anguish  was  an  insatiable  thirst. 
A  o-uiishot  wound  is  followed  instantlv  bv  a  fierce  thirst, 
which,  if  not  gratified;  increases  to  a  perfect  rage.  As  the 
fever  rises,  which  immediatel}'  ensues,  the  dying  soldier 
drags  his  helpless  carcass  toward  the  cooling  stream ;  and 
suffers  more  from  the  agonizing  thirst,  than  from  the  most 
serious  wound.  Sailors,  delivered  from  ocean  wrecks,  tell 
fearful  tales  of  the  agonies  of  thirst.  A  wounded  man,  to 
whom  water  is  denied,  suffers  ten-fold. 

These  causes  combined  make  death  by  crucifixion  the  most 
fearful  death,  that  human  malignity  ever  devised.  The 
Romans  adopted  it  at  once  as  their  mode  of  capital  punish- 
ment ;  it  so  perfectly  suited  the  cruelty  of  their  national 
character.  Where  criminals  were  enduring  this  form  of 
death,  the  air  was  full  of  the  most  piteous  calls  for  water, 
the  most  fearful  cui'ses  and  imprecations,  and  prayers  for 
death  outright.  Roman  cruelty  heard  them  all  unmoved. 
One  of  their  best  and  greatest  men  at  about  this  very 
time,  said  of  this  form  of  execution:  "It  should  be  a,bsent 
from  the  eyes,  the  ears,  the  thoughts  of  men,"  implying 
that  he  himself  was  haunted  by  what  he  had  seen  and 
heard,  and  would  forget  if  he  could. 

This  death  by  the  cross  the  sinless  Redeemer  was  made 
to  endure,  aggravated  to  the  extremest  degree.  No  tor- 
ment that  could  be  invented,  but  was  added.  It  could  be 
made  a  rack,  by  which  nearly  all  the  bones  of  the  body 
could  be  dislocated ;  as  well  as  an  instrument  of  execution. 
The  frame  of  the  sufferer  could  be  made  almost  like  the 
broken  bread  of  the  sacrament,  by  the  fierce  violence  of  its 
adjustment.  The  inspired  statement  respecting  it  in  the 
twenty-second  Psalm,  is:  "All  my  bones  are  out  of  Joint. 
I  may  tell  all  my  bones:  they  look  and  stare  upon  me." 
The  beholder  could  almost  count  the  bones  in  the  shrunken 
and  collapsed  skeleton  hanging  in  view. 

And  then  while  the  malefactors  were  left  to  die  unmo- 
lested, and  even  some  provision  was  made  for  their  thirst 
of  an  alleviating  potion,  there  was  not  in  a  single  bosom 
an  emotion  of  compassion  for  the  sinless  one.  All  that 
passed  by  wagged  their  heads  and  reviled  him.  Highway 
robbery    and    murder    aroused    no    indignation,  compared 


376  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

with  what  was  felt  against  Christ.  He  was  the  object  of 
the  concentrated  mockery  and  insult  of  the  world.  There 
was  pity  for  the  thieves;  but  only  derision  for  Jesus.  The 
crowd  marked  the  central  figure  alone,  like  a  circle  of  hiss- 
ing serpents  surrounding  a  fated  victim,  each  anxious  to 
deliver  the  final  stroke.  Their  hatred  and  scorn  grew  by 
exercise,  and  indulgence,  and  became  more  dire  and  dread- 
ful to  the  last. 

Knowing  how  hopeles  any  appeal  to  their  compassion 
would  be,  the  Redeemer  endured  the  awful  thirst  of  cruci- 
fixion ;  but  because  it  had  been  predicted,  he  begged  for 
relief,  saying:  "I  thirst."  Anticipating  the  inevitable  sup- 
plication, gall  had  been  provided,  and  mingled  with  vinegar 
was  raised  to  his  fevered  lips.  How  tenderly  burning  lips 
are  wetted  by  the  hand  of  affection;  while  the  cooling- 
draught  is  administered  to  help  the  sufferer  in  his  agony  I 
but  no  sympathy  moved  for  Jesus. 

In  the  midst  of  sufferings,  indescribable  because  unfath- 
omable, he  exclaimed:  '■'■Eh!  Eli!  lama,  sabachthiini;'"  and 
the  bystanders  were  ready  to  make  a  cruel  jest  of  it.  An- 
other word  of  prophecy  had  said:  "I  looked  for  com- 
forters; and  there  were  none;  and  for  some  to  take  pity; 
but  I  found  none."  So  terrible  was  the  vengeance  of  that 
assembled  crowd  ;  that  his  friends  were  overborne  by  it. 
They  were  not  only  afraid  and  ashamed  to  own  connec- 
tion with  him ;  but  they  even  mused  in  their  hearts, 
whether  he  could  be  the  son  of  God,  and  be  left  to  the 
horror  of  such  a  fate. 

It  is  hard  to  die^mong  friends,  kindly  watched  and 
nursed  and  cai"ed  for.  It  is  hard  to  die  on  the  block  or 
gallows,  even  with  the  consolation  that  some  condole  and 
weep :  but  such  was  not  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  was 
forsaken  by  those  he  loved ;  and  the  vengeance  of  hell 
could  not  add  another  drop  to  the  cup  of  bitterness,  which 
he  Avas  made  to  drink.  It  was  in  the  eternal  counsels  of 
the  most  high,  that  he  should  suffer  thus  alone.  It  was 
too  honorable  a  place  for  any  of  his  disciples  to  occupy 
beside  him  on  the  summit  of  Calvary.  He  stood  alone  be- 
fore the  burning  throne,  when  he  became  our  surety ;  and 
he  must  stand  alone,  when    he   paid    the   debt   to   divine 


CALVARY   AND  ITS  VICTIM.  877 

justice.  No  created  being  can  be  admitted,  where  he  can 
even  seem  to  share  the  smallest  portion  of  the  glory,  which 
belongs  to  our  Emmanuel. 

Terrible  as  the  pains  of  such  a  death  must  have  been, 
sufferings  of  another  kind  still  must  have  been  required  in 
order  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  the  law,  which  expends 
the  full  force  of  its  retribution  upon  the  soul,  atoning  suf- 
ferings are  inflicted  by  the  hand  of  God  directly,  rather 
than  through  the  agency  of  men.  Jesus  was  permitted  to 
fall  into  the  hands  of  men  also;  that  they  might  display 
their  real  character  in  their  treatment  of  him;  and  that 
sin  might  exhibit  its  "exceeding  sinfulness."  The  sufferings 
of  the  Redeemer  at  the  hands  of  men  were  more  grievous 
to  endure  than  all  the  malice  and  rage  of  the  pit:  ingrati- 
tude "worse  than  serpent's  tooth"  gave  them  their  edge 
and  sting.  None  can  be  astonished  that  Satan  raged 
against  him ;  but  though  apprised  of  the  madness  and 
desperation  of  sin,  who  can  help  being  amazed  at  the 
pitiless  opposition  of  men  to  the  holy  Son  of  God? 

III.  Let  attention  be  directed  to  his  inward  agonies, 
though  it  seem  almost  a  profanation  to  discuss  them;  and  it 
will  be  readily  confessed;  that  here  are  seen  the  traces  of  suf- 
ferings inflicted  by  God  himself  directly.  These  were  the 
sufferings  which  destroyed  his  life:  Abraham's  own  hand 
must  slay  his  son.  What  we  have  previously  recited,  a 
mere  man,  sustained  b^^  divine  help,  might  possibly  be  able 
to  sustain;  and  in  cases  men  have  endured  something  of 
the  same,  though  many  degrees  lighter  than  what  came 
upon  the  sinless  one.  If  God  through  a  glass  darkly 
shine  upon  the  soul,  torments  cannot  check  the  song  of 
triumph,  or  interrupt  the  smile  of  joy.  Vain  have  been 
proved  the  rack  of  the  inquisition,  and  the  fires  of  the 
stake.  The  spirit  that  sustained  martyrs  rested  on  him  in 
thousand-fold  measure.  A  strength  more  than  human  was 
in  him,  and  a  composure  stable  as  the  eternal  throne.  The 
curse  of  Almighty  God  carries  with  it  what  is  far  worse 
than  bodily'  pain.  Accordingly  traces  are  visible,  in  liis 
last  hours  of  sufferings,  unintelligible  to  us,  and  unac- 
countable except  on  the  admission,  that  "he  hath  put 
him  to  grief."  he  hath  "made  his  soul  an  offering  for  sin." 


378  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

We  have  before  seen  him  endurino-  the  temptations  of 
Satan,  suffering  the  contradiction  of  sinners,  moved  with 
S3'mpath3'  over  the  sorrows  of  the  sufferers,  till  "himself 
took  our  infirmities,  and  carried  our  sorrows;"  we  have 
seen  him  weeping  with  those  that  wept,  and  over  those  who 
did  not  weep:  and  as  far  as  human  sympathy'  is  concerned, 
we  can  understand  his  emotions.  But  in  his  whole  life  w'e 
do  not  discern  anything"  like  what  he  endured  mentally 
through  the  last  days.  And  so  it  is  expreslj'  declared,  that 
he  atoned  by  his  death,  that  he  was  made  a  curse  when 
he  hung  upon  the  tree.  All  the  griefs  of  his  previous  life 
are  not  accounted  of,  or  hardly  considered  worth\^  of  men- 
tion in  comparison  with  those  appalling  sorrows,  which  came 
upon  him  only  at  the  last.  And  these  defy  our  efforts  to 
understand,  or  to  disclose  their  nature. 

Of  one  thing  we  are  well  assured ;  it  is  out  of  the  power 
of  man  to  torment  the  holy  soul,  even  of  a  mere  martyrj 
or  apostle.  Grief,  the  twin  brother  of  sin,  was  not  rooted 
in  his  soul,  as  it  is  inseparably  entwined  with  a  sinful 
nature:  and  it  was  not  possible  for  human  or  satanic  in- 
fluence to  shroud  that  holy  and  immovable  being  in  gloom, 
or  overcome  him  with  agony.  We  learn  from  Gethsemane 
that  his  agony  had  no  origin  from,  or  connection  with 
phj'sical  suffering.  Here  was  penal  sorrow,  of  which  we 
know  almost  nothing.  "The  chastisement  of  our  peace 
was  upon  him."  We  have  experienced  nothing  but  mercy 
at  the  hand  of  God.  If  we  have  been  afflicted,  afflictions 
have  been  our  greatest  mercies.  God's  judgments  we  have 
not  known:  they  Live  not  come  within  thousands  of  years 
of  us.  We  can  only  form  some  feeble  imagination  of  what 
penal  sorrow  is:  there  was  no  occasion  for  remorse  in  the 
holy  victim.  He  could  never  feel  the  gnawings  of  the 
worm  that  never  dies.  Like  a  beam  of  sacred  light  which, 
though  it  shine  upon  the  foulest  corruption  and  disease, 
is  uncontaminated  and  uncontaminable;  so  he  was  im- 
maculate purity  itself,  and  could  never  feel  that  which 
lends  death  its  sting. 

Could  we  have  stood  with  the  disciples  within  the  gate  of 
Gethsemane,  we  should  have  heard  the  voice  that  stilled 
the  raging  sea  with  a  word,  and  opened  the  tomb,  praying: 


CALVAIiY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  379 

but  it  is  tlie  voice  of  a  dying  man.  There  was  danger, 
that  the  shock  of  sudden  anguish  might  rupture  the  walls 
of  the  heart:  a  result  that  actually  followed  on  the  day 
of  the  crucifixion,  the  following  day.  He  is  praying  that 
if  it  be  possible  the  cup  might  pass.  If  it  be  possible  for 
God  to  save  sinners  at  any  less  sacrifice,  if  it  be  possible 
for  the  ho\y  law  to  relax  its  grasp,  or  be  modified  in  any 
degree,  and  God's  honor  be  saved,  and  at  the  same  time  the 
salvation  of  sinners  be  secured ;  that  the  cup  might  pass. 
He  prayed  with  agonies,  and  tears,  and  blood.  In  vain 
do  we  search  the  records  of  time  for  anything  to  compare 
with  the  phenomena  of  that  hour.  Remorse  and  despair 
never  produced  such  effects  upon  a  feeble  mortal.  His  body 
required  miraculous  support;  therefore  we  see  no  faintings 
or  insensibility  during  the  hours  of  the  crucifixion.  But  if 
the  first  taste  of  the  cup  was  so  dreadful,  what  must  have 
been  its  horrors,  when  nature  shuddei-ed,  earth's  caverns 
groaned  and  the  lamp  of  day  burned  dim  and  deathly! 
Had  the  whole  race  of  mortals  gone  down  in  a  moment 
to  the  sides  of  the  pit,  the  sun  had  not  lost  its  lustre; 
and  earth  and  sun  would  have  held  on  their  wonted  course, 
and  have  ascribed  new  glory  to  their  maker's  name.  In 
vain  is  the  attempt  to  imagine  or  describe;  but  it  is  be- 
yond a  doubt,  that  Jesus  suffered  at  the  hand  of  God. 

There  was  evident  in  his  closing  hours  a  horror  of  grief, 
that  rose  like  a  flood,  till  his  whole  soul  was  engulfed  by 
it.  It  was  all  mysterious.  Nothing  in  the  past  could  sting 
him  with  mortal  agony;  in  the  future  there  was  overpow- 
ering glorj^  onl^^;  his  humanity  was  free  from  all  the  ac- 
companiments of  sin;  yet  he  suffered.  Awful  proofs  attest 
the  realty  of  an  anguish  exceeding  conception,  and  defying 
explanation,  except  such  as  the  word  of  God  gives,  that 
"HE  was  wounded  for  ouk  transgressions;  he  was  bruised 
for  OUR  iniquities;  and  the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was 
upon  HLM.''  Doubtless  the  intensity  of  his  suffering  was  as 
much  concealed,  and  out  of  view,  as  were  his  omnipotence 
and  omniscience.  But  a  glimpse  only  of  his  boundless  power 
was  afforded,  sufficient  to  demonstrate  his  high  endowment ; 
only  the  A,  B,  C  of  his  all  comprehensive  knowledge  came 
within  our  observation,   just  sufficient  to  demonstrate  its 


380 


THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 


illimitable  boundlessness;  we  have  proof  of  his  possession 
of  these  divine  attributes;  and  that  is  all.  So  the  veil  was 
so  far  withdrawn  that  we  can  see  that  he  suffered;  but  the 
full  extent  of  that  suffering  we  can  never  fathom.  Behind 
the  veil  there  was  far  more  unseen  than  was  revealed.  His 
bloody  sweat  and  d3ing  agony  as  little  show  the  deep  in- 
tensity of  his  sorrows,  and  their  fearful  extent;  as  his 
works  fail  to  reveal  his  boundless  reserve  power.  Yonder 
sun  has  seen  a  whole  generation  descend  to  hell  in  a  day, 
but  it  shone  on;  when  Jesus  died,  its  light  was  dimmed. 
The  earth  has  often  quaked;  when  Jesus  died,  the  dead  in 
their  graves  felt  it,  and  the  dry  bones  moved.  Old  death 
trembled  on  his  throne,  as  doomed  to  defeat.  Nature  never 
thus  responded  to  man. 

These  portents  show  that  in  his  last  hours  Christ  was 
engulfed  in  an  ocean  of  woe,  whose  distant  roaring  alone 
we  can  hear.  Its  lashing  surges  do  not  beat  within  the 
purview  of  human  observation.  Far  more  was  perhaps 
concealed  than  was  revealed.  As  when  the  cities  of  the 
plain  were  destroyed,  Abraham  beheld  afar  off  the  smoke 
as  of  a  distant  furnace;  so  we  discover  the  certain  indica- 
tions of  a  storm  of  wrath,  such  as  has  never  been  experi- 
enced in  a  world  of  mercy.  AVe  have  never  tasted  a  drop  of 
the  cup  which  the  Savior  drained.  We  cease  to  wonder 
that  he  noticed  not  the  insults  of  enemies.  Perhaps  bodily 
pain  was  almost  unheeded  in  the  dire,  engrossing  agonies 
of  a  soul  "making  an  end  of  sins,  and  bringing  in  an  ever- 
lasting righteousness." 

These  were  the  Mfferings  which  atoned.  God  is  the 
avenger  of  sin,  laying  our  sins  upon  the  head  of  the  inno- 
cent lamb.  Had  it  not  been  for  our  sins,  the  fiends  of  hell 
might  have  raged ;  but  would  not  have  been  loosed  against 
him.  Had  it  not  been  for  our  sins,  God  would  never  have 
said  to  the  sword  of  justice  sleeping  in  its  scabbard : 
"Awake,  O  sword,  against  the  man  that  is  my  fellow; 
smite  the  shepherd."  The  spotless  victim  would  never  have 
been  made  to  feel  the  torment  due  to  sin.  Man  is  the  guilty 
cause  of  all.  Let  not  the  retribution  come  on  us,  seeing  that 
there  is  forgiveness  with  God.  Merciful  Creator,  let  not  thy 
wrath  "beat  upon  our  naked  souls  in  one  eternal  storm!" 


CALVARY  AND  ITS   VICTIM.  381 


CHAPTER  XXXXl. 


THE  SUM  OF  THE  JEWISH  TYPES. 


The  tabernacle  of  the  congreg-ation  was  not  a  place  of 
assembl}^  for  Israel,  as  the  name  would  naturally  suggest, 
but  the  tent  of  meeting  between  God  and  man.  Therein 
it  was  shown  on  what  conditions  the  presence  and  favor 
of  God,  withdrawn  from  the  world  on  account  of  human 
sin,  cound  be  regained.  All  the  Jewish  types  cluster  about 
the  holy  of  holies.  In  it  were  the  arcana  of  Judaism,  its 
whole  mystery.  The  solution  of  the  great  problem  of 
man's  possible  communion  with  his  maker  was  to  be  found 
there:  the  onlj'  light  from  heaven  upon  the  subject  of 
greatest  interest  to  the  I'ace,  shone  there.  A  great  advance 
over  all  previous  knowledge  of  the  way  of  approach  to  a 
reconciled  God  was  made  by  its  arrangements,  and  re- 
quired services:  yet  the  similarity  between  its  appointment 
and  God's  discovery  of  himself  at  Eden  after  the  original 
transgression  was  marked.  The  attendant  cherubim  in 
both  cases,  the  waving  sword  of  fire  forbidding  approach 
in  one  case,  and  exclusion  by  statute  on  peril  of  death  in 
in  the  other,  and  propitiation  by  blood  in  both,  demon- 
strate identity  of  administration. 

The  possession  of  the  oracle  conferred  upon  the  Jew  a 
distinction  above  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  sufficient 
to  justify  his  extravagant  sense  of  superiority;  had  it  not 
been  connected  with  such  contempt  for  others.  And  the 
destruction  of  the  ark  of  the  covenant  in  the  conflagration 
of  the  holy  house  by  the  Chaldeans  was  a  far  greater  loss 
than  the  overthrow  and  ruin  of  their  city,  and  the  captiv- 
ity of  their  people.  The  loss  was  irreparable,  and  was 
never  repaired.  The  second  temple  hence  was  destitute  of 
the  ark  and  its  contents,  the  Shechinah,  and  the  lineal 
succession  of  the  sons  of  Aaron;  and  its  only  '"glory"   was 


382  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

that  it  was  trodden  by  the  sou  of  (lod  in  mortal  flesh,  who 
who  took  possession  of  it  in  the  name  of  the  eternal  Father, 
and  rescued  it  for  a  brief  time  from  the  desecration  author- 
ized by  the  hio-h  priest  then  in  office. 

1.  In  considering  the  types  and  their  interpretation,  the 
first  o-reat  fact  impressed  by  the  arrano-ements  of  the 
tabernacle,  is  the  uncleanness  of  human  nature  in  the  sight 
of  God.  No  one  of  the  favored  nation  was  admitted  within 
the  holy  Avails.  A  very  few  of  the  priests,  succeeding  ac- 
cording to  their  courses,  and  selected  by  lot,  entered  the 
outer  room  to  perform  the  three  or  four  services  necessary 
to  its  proper  regulation.  One  man  only,  a  lineal  descendant 
of  Aaron,  could  enter  the  inner  room  ;  and  he  but  once  in 
the  year,  and  then  but  for  a  very  brief  space.  The  ex- 
clusion of  the  people  was  general  and  everlasting,  and  on 
the  ground  of  their  unfitness  for  the  presence  of  a  holy 
God.  Indeed  on  the  day  of  the  annual  atonement  the  high 
priest  was  required  to  make  atonement  for  the  holy  place, 
as  defiled  by  the  entry  into  it  of  the  anointed  priests ;  and 
for  the  altar  of  burnt  offering;  because  their  impure  hands 
had  been  upon  it  in  the  discharge  of  their  enjoined  service. 
The  unlooked  for  presence  of  a  venomous  reptile  in  a  family 
residence  would  not  be  felt  to  be  more  a  pollution  of  the 
house,  and  the  very  air  in  it  also,  than  was  the  presence 
of  a  human  being,  anointed  and  purified  though  he  were, 
in  the  temple  of  the  holy,  hol}^,  holy  Jehovah.  This  ex- 
clusion was  not  enforced  because  of  an3^  enormities  of  which 
they  had  been  guilty;  but  because  of  that  original  corrup- 
tion of  nature,  which  we  have  all  inherited  from  Adam; 
which  like  a  poison  in  the  blood  infects  the  whole  moral 
constitution,  and  reveals  itself  in  the  wounds  and  bruises 
and  putrefying  sores  of  iniquity,  which  have  not  been  "closed, 
nor  bound  up,  nor  mollified  with  ointment."  As  cancer  or 
consumption  or  hydrophobia  may  be  in  our  veins  though 
latent;  so  the  Yery  virus  of  perdition  is  in  our  souls;  if 
its  presence  is  not  suspected  by  ourselves,  or  indicated  to 
others.  So  men  were  excluded  from  the  house  in  which 
God's  presence  was,  as  moral  lepers  shut  out  from  the  un- 
infected. Such  is  the  decision  of  tlie  Most  High  respecting 
all  the  family  of  man;  that    their    nature   is    so  perverted 


(JALVARY   AND   ITS   VICTIM.  383 

and  vitiated  by  siii;  that  without  a  radical  change  they 
can  never  enter  the  pure  workl  of  which  the  sanctuary  was 
the  type.  Into  that  heaven  ''nothing-  shall  by  any  means 
enter  that  defileth,  or  worketh  abomination,  or  maketh  a 
lie;"  therefore  they  were  shut  out  from  the  earthly  temple. 

It  is  impossible  to  devise  any  more  impressive  method  of 
declaring  the  boundless  disparity  and  distance  between 
God  and  sinners.  After  the  gross  idolatay  at  the  foot  of 
Sinai,  the  tabernacle,  which  had  hitherto  been  in  the  midst 
of  the  camp,  was  withdrawn,  and  located  without,  and  at 
a  distance;  indicating  more  strongly  God's  separation ;  by 
removing  his  dwelling  place  from  their  midst.  His  remotest 
connection  with  evil  is  the  most  impossible  of  all  impossi- 
bilities. The  bare  thought  of  such  conjunction  is  the 
gravest  insult  that  can  be  offered  to  Jehovah;  no  opposites 
are  so  incompatible.  Consuming  fire  and  chaff  can  as  easily 
coexist.  All  the  dispositions  of  the  tabernacle  were  so  framed 
as  to  impress  this,  and  keeyj  it  ever  before  the  minds  of 
the  worshipers.  Sinless  angels,  overwhelmed  with  awe  by 
the  contemplation  of  the  dazzling  purity  of  infinite  holiness, 
cover  their  faces  with  their  wings ;  as  men  shade  their  eyes 
before  the  white  heat  of  the  furnace,  or  the  middaj^  bright- 
ness of  the  summer  sun,  unable  to  bear  the  view\  "The 
heavens  are  unclean  in  his  sight." 

2.  Another  fact  shown  by  the  arrangements  of  the 
tabernacle  is  the  unapproachable  sacredness  of  God's  pres- 
ence. The  building  was  divided  into  two  apartments;  as 
was  the  temple  afterwards,  constructed  of  twice  its  dimen- 
sions. These  two  rooms  represented  earth  and  heaven, 
separated  by  the  veil  of  flesh  and  blood.  This  veil  is  all 
that  hides  God,  and  the  invisible  world  from  present  view. 
The  furniture  of  the  holy  place  consisted  of  the  seven- 
branched  lamp,  the  table  of  shew-bread,  and  the  golden 
altar  of  incense,  all  which  our  Lord  claimed  to  be  sym- 
bols of  himself  as  the  light  of  the  world,  the  bread  of  life, 
and  the  altar  sanctifying  our  prayers,  which  are  to  be 
offered  through  him,  and  thus  i-endered  acceptable  to  God. 
Into  this  room  the  priests  could  enter,  but  not  at  their  own 
w'ill;  but  only  in  order  when  duly  commissioned  and  selected 
by  lot,  which  to  them  was  a  direct  call  from  heaven. 


384  THE   CJUEAT   SACRIFICE. 

The  other  apartment  was  closed  against  the  race.  It 
contained  onl}^  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  which  was  a  chest 
of  Acacia  wood  forty-five  inches  in  length  and  twent^^-seven 

in    breadth    and  height.      Within  were    the    two  tables  of 

• 

stone  written  by  the  finger  of  God.  This  antograph  of 
Jehovah  was  covered  from  view  b}^  a  golden  Tid.  The  ark 
itself  was  overlaid  with  gold  having  a  rim  or  crown  pro- 
jecting above  the  wood,  which  rim  received  and  retained 
the  massive  golden  lid,  which  if  of  the  thickness  of  one- 
half  inch,  and  it  could  not  well  be  less,  was  of  the  value  of 
more  than  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Over  this  and  still  with- 
in the  rim  was  laid  a  covering  of  rams'  skins  dyed  red. 
The  law  was  thus  covered.  The  word  for  propitiation  in 
Hebrew  means  a  covering,  and  the  word  to  forgive  is  to 
cover.  On  each  end  of  the  lid  stood  a  cherub  with  wings 
outstretched,  and  intently  gazing  inward  toward  the 
sprinkled  blood,  which  Peter  explains  as  teaching:  "into 
which  things  the  angels  desire  to  look."  The  ends  of  the 
staves  by  which  it  was  carried  were  seen  without  the  veil; 
in  order  that  the  priest  entering  into  the  thick  darkness 
in  w^hich  Ood  dwells,  might  be  apprized  of  the  exact  loca- 
tion of  the  ark,  on  whose  lid  called  the  mercy  seat  the 
blood  was  to  be  sprinkled.  The  Lord  visibly  occupied  this 
mercy  seat  as  his  throne  by  a  pillar  of  cloud  resting  upon 
it.  Lev.  IS:  2.  This  inner  room  received  no  light  from 
without :  but  its  illumination  was  from  the  mysterious  pil- 
lar above  the  ark.  The  heavenly  city,  the  holy  of  holies 
of  the  universe  "has  no  need  of  the  sun  nor  of  the  moon 
to  shine  in  it ;  for  hhe  glory  of  the  Lord  did  lighten  it, 
and  the  lamb  is  the  light  thereof."  "The  length  and  the 
breadth  and  the  height  of  it  are  equal."  Into  this  most 
holy  place  only  the  son  of  Aaron  in  direct  lineal  descent 
could  enter  after  consecration,  and  compliance  with  the  re- 
quired purifications.  His  office  was  for  one  day  in  the  year, 
and  on  that  day  only  was  the  whole  sacred  edifice  in  use.  The 
great  entry  typified  by  this  would  occur  but  once  in  the 
ages,  the  great  actor  would  be  solitary  in  his  function; 
and  would  be  everliving,  as  the  succession  had  no  vacancy. 
This  most  holy  place  derived  its  sacredness  from  the 
tables  of  God's  writing;    the  ark,  simply  a  wooden  box. 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  385 

had  of  itself  no  sanctity  whatever.  The  words  of  the  ten 
commandments  were  the  only  words  pronounced  by  God 
himself  in  state  to  Israel,  amid  the  terrifying-  accompani- 
ments of  the  day,  and  the  onl}'  writino;  of  his  hand.  When 
this  law  was  given,  the  Mount  Sinai,  which,  if  properly  lo- 
cated by  modern  explorers,  rises  perpendicularly  from  the 
plain,  and  "might  be  touched,''  was  sacred  from  all  ap- 
proach. Even  the  senseless  beast,  which  might  by  accident 
run  aga'nst  it,  was  to  be  stoned  or  thrust  through  with  a 
dart.  This  mountain  was  the  first  holy  of  holies;  and  when 
these  tables  were  deposited  in  the  ark,  the  inviolable  sanctity 
of  the  holy  mountain  at  once  attached  to  it;  and  the  re- 
strictions of  Sinai  at  once  guarded  the  holy  of  holies;  its 
sacredness  due  wholly  to  the  presence  of  the  tables  of  the  law. 

AVlien  this  ark  had  at  one  time  been  taken  by  the 
enemies,  they  were  unable  to  retain  the  dangerous  and 
destructive  trophy.  Placed  in  the  house  of  Dagon,  their 
god,  it  overthrew  the  idol,  shattering  him  the  second  night 
to  the  stump.  The  cities,  in  which  it  was  sucessively  de- 
posited, were  afflicted  with  one  of  the  most  distressing- 
maladies  incident  to  hunianity;  until  they  were  forced  to 
restore  it.  It  was  placed  upon  a  new  cart,  never  before 
used,  and  left  to  the  instinct  of  the  cattle  attached.  The 
young  heifers,  deaf  to  the  cries  of  their  appealing  offspring, 
took  the  direct  road  to  the  nearest  city  of  the  land  of 
Israel;  and  without  a  driver  delivered  it  at  Bethshemesh, 
where  immense  crowds  soon  gathered  to  receive  it. 

Some  were  hardy  enough  to  open  the  sacred  chest,  and 
look  upon  the  hidden  tables;  and  in  consequence  fifty 
thousand  and  three  score  and  ten  were  smitten,  and  died 
before  the  Lord.  Removed  to  the  house  of  a  Levite  in  the 
immediate  vicinity,  it  remained  until  David  proposed  to  re- 
move it  to  his  own  capital  city,  years  after.  When  he  went, 
with  all  the  chosen  men  of  Israel,  to  fetch  it,  it  was  again 
placed  upon  a  new  cart,  which  the  Levite's  two  sons  under- 
took to  drive.  When,  owing  to  the  roughness  of  the  road,  the 
ark  was  shaken  by  the  oxen,  Uzzah  put  forth  his  hand  to 
steady  it,  he  paid  the  penalty  with  his  life  upon  the  spot; 
and  it  was  taken  no  farther;  but  placed  in  the  house  of 
another  Levite  immediately  neighboring,  David  fearing  to 
-25 


386  THE  GREAT  SACKIFICE. 

bring  it  up  to  liis  own  city.  "  Who  can  stand  before  this 
holy  Lord  God?"  was  the  comment  of  ever}^  one;  even  the 
liig'h  priest  could  enter  to  its  presence  at  the  prescribed 
time  only,  "that  he  die  not."  No  more  startling  lesson 
could  be  given  enforcing  its  fearful  sanctity,  and  the  stern 
and  rigid  character  of  the  law  w-ritten  on  the  tables. 

Down  the  ages  God  called  the  attention  of  the  people  to  this 
law  by  the  most  formidable  demonstration  of  its  obligaton. 
It  operates  by  a  curse  upon  every  soul  lacking  conformity 
in  the  slightest  degree  with  its  requirements.  It  shows  no 
tolerance,  no  patience,  no  long-suffering;  its  condemnation 
is  speedy  and  instantaneous ;  its  retribution  is  a  vengeance ; 
and  in  its  judgment  it  is  sharper  than  a  two-edged  sword,^ 
piercing  to  the  dividing  asunder  of  soul  and  spirit.  The  fear- 
ful circumstances  attending  its  delivery  were  in  harmony 
with  its  spirit,  and  revealed  its  authority;  and  lightnings 
and  thunderings  that  might  befit  the  last  day,  emphasized 
its  prohibitions.  The  exclusion  of  mortals  from  the  pres- 
ence of  these  tables  was  enforced  by  unparalleled  judg- 
ments visited  instantly  upon  intruders :  into  the  presence  of 
the  God  of  Sinai  who  would  dare  adventure? 

The  holy  of  holies,  shut  thus  against  the  people,  was  en- 
tered by  their  representative  solely.  The  priest  "was  or- 
dained for  men  in  things  pertaining  to  God."  There  has 
never  been  but  one  real  priest,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  of 
whom  the  Jewish  priests  were  types:  and  the  chief  of  their 
order  combined  in  himself  and  his  office  a  full  figure  and 
picture  of  the  one  only  real  priest  of  God.  The  long  suc- 
cession of  the  sons"  of  Aaron  typified  his  eternal  ofl^ice.  On 
the  annual  day  set  apart  for  the  entry,  the  priest  was 
clothed  in  the  holy  garments  made  according  to  the  pat- 
tern shown  to  Moses  in  the  mount,  the  keeping  of  which 
was  a  matter  of  national  importance:  and  when,  in  after 
ages,  the  Romans  took  them  into  their  own  guardianship, 
as  a  security  for  the  good  behavior  of  the  people;  by  so 
doing  they  added  to  the  grievances  which  led  to  the  final 
war.  One  of  these  garments  was  a  breast-plate  set  with 
twelve  jewels,  inscribed  with  the  names  of  the  twelve  tribes, 
which  he  represented;  denoting,  that  on  the  living  heart  of 
our  Jesus  the  names  of  those  who  trust  in  him  are  engraved 


CALVARY   AND   ITS   VICTBI.  887 

in  indelible  traces,  and  that  he  so  identifies  himself  with 
them,  that  to  the  eye  of  God  they  are  one.  An  inscription 
in  letters  of  p;old,  "Holiness  to  the  Lord,"'  shone  upon  his 
forehead.  This  priest,  the  highest  official  in  the  nation  as 
God  organized  it,  if  true  to  his  duty  and  his  God,  executed 
an  office  superior  to  that  of  king,  of  more  sympathetic 
quality,  of  far  greater  accessibleness,  and  not  subject  to 
the  temptations  incident  to  royalty. 

The  tabernacle  system  kept  ever  prominent  the  great  fact, 
that  none  could  come  into  the  presence  of  the  holy  Jehovah 
in  his  own  name  and  person;  and  that  all  transactions  on 
our  behalf  in  his  court,  must  be  effected  for  us  by  an  ad- 
vocate and  representative.  A  flaming  sword  turning  every 
way  barred  the  approach  of  sinners.  The  descriptions  of 
the  throne  of  God  are  apparently  drawn  from  the  burning- 
mount.  "Clouds  and  darkness,  thunderings  and  lightnings 
and  voices,  and  trumpet  are  concomitants." 

3.  The  first  act  required  of  the  priest  on  the  day  of  atone- 
ment, w^as  to  wash  his  whole  body  with  water  at  the  laver: 
and  to  clothe  himself  in  the  holy  garments.  A  bullock  had 
been  provided  on  whose  head  he  next  laid  his  hands  thus 
"putting  his  sins"  upon  the  head  of  the  victim;  and  when 
the  bullock  was  killed  as  a  sin  bearer,  he  caught  its  blood 
i.  e.  its  life  in  a  shallow  basin  of  gold;  and  before  it  was 
coagulated,  while  yet  "new  and  living,"  he  hurried  with 
it  within  the  veil;  taking  along  a  censer,  on  which  burn- 
ing coals  from  the  altar  had  been  previously  placed,  upon 
which  he  cast  a  handful  of  sweet  incense  beaten  small. 
Standing  before  the  ark  just  discovered  by  the  glow  of 
the  coals,  amid  a  cloud  of  ascending  incense,  he  took  of 
the  warm  blood  in  his  fingers,  and  sprinkled  it  upon  the 
mercy  seat,  once  across  and  seven  times  leng-thwise  of  the 
ark.  The  sprinkled  blood  fell  between  the  wondering 
cherubim,  and  immediately  under  the  pillar  of  cloud, 
which  became  a  pillar  of  light  and  fire,  if  the  offering  were 
accepted.  With  his  offering  thus  favorably  received,  he  was 
now  qualified  to  make  atonement  for  the  people;  and  im- 
mediatelv  addressed  himself  to  the  ceremony,  which  was 
the  fullest  representation  of  the  work  of  the  future  Clirist 
that  Judaism  possessed. 


388  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

To  make  the  picture  of  his  redeeming-  work  perfect,  three 
representative  parties  were  required.  Two  goats  were 
brought  for  a  sin  offering,  the  two  constituting  a  single 
offering;  each  delineating  a  part  of  the  atoning  work, 
while  the  priest  himself  enacted  another  part  of  the  same. 
Lots  were  first  cast  opon  the  goats  to  determine  which 
should  be  the  victim.  When  it  was  slaughtered,  the  priest 
caught  its  blood  as  it  fell ;  and  taking  a  censer  replenished 
with  fresh  coals  from  the  altar,  on  which  he  cast  a  hand- 
ful of  sweet  incense  beaten  small,  he  hasted  within  the  veil. 
In  this  part  of  the  ceremony  the  shedding  of  the  blood  of 
Jesus  was  shadowed.  The  blood  and  the  ascending  incense 
set  forth  the  dying  and  interceding  Savior  praying  for  all 
men:  "Father,  forgive  them;  they  know  not  what  they 
do.''  The  other  goat,  with  "the  sins  of  the  people  upon 
its  head"  by  the  imposition  of  hands  and  confession,  was 
sent  away  into  the  wilderness  out  of  the  sight  of  man,  and 
there  released;  signifying  that  Jesus  at  death  should  go 
away  out  of  sight  of  men  bearing  their  sins.  At  this  point, 
the  priest  took  up  the  thread  of  representation,  to  show 
where  the  mediator  would  go.  Passing  through  the  veil 
separating  the  holy  from  the  most  holy  place,  the  visible 
from  the  invisible,  he  showed  that  Christ,  through  the  rent 
veil  of  flesh  and  blood,  should  enter  into  the  presence  of 
God,  the  unseen  sanctuary;  not  "with  blood  of  others:" 
and  when  the  righteous  law  demanded  the  blood  of  trans- 
gressors, should  have  his  own  most  precious  blood  to 
show  as  a  substitute  for  man's,  and  "a  propitiation  for 
the  sins  of  the  world.'' 

Standing  again  before  the  ark,  he  took  of  the  living- 
blood  with  his  fingers,  and  sprinkled  it  still  warm  upon  the 
mercy  seat;  once  across,  and  seven  times  leng-thwise  of 
the  ark;  and  before  the  mysterious  pillar.  During  the 
ceremonies  of  the  day,  this  whole  function  was  performed 
by  the  priest  without  assistance;  he  was  solitary  in  the 
whole  work.  Indeed  everyone  was  forbidden  by  express 
statute  to  be  near,  when  he  entered  within  the  veil.  The 
people  retired  and  stood  afar  off,  praying  and  confessing 
theii-  sins:  it  was  a  time  of  suspense  and  dread.  The 
worshipers    waited    with    bated    breath  the   return    of  the 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  389 

priest,  who  officiated  at  the  peril  of  his  life,  if  any  infor- 
mality occurred.  And  then  they  felt  suspense  on  their  own 
account;  it  beinp,-  uncertain  if  the  propitiation  would  be 
effectual  for  them,  and  what  communications  might  be  re- 
turned; for  Jehovah  held  communion  from  the  pillar 
through  the  priest.  If  the  offerings  were  accepted,  the  most 
holy  place  became  luminous  from  the  supernatural  light  of 
the  heavenly  world ;  and  its  "sun  shall  not  go  down  by  day, 
and  there  shall  be  no  night  there." 

Only  a  thin  veil  hides  God  from  our  sight;  and  through 
this  rent  by  violence  our  Lord  passed  into  the  very  court 
of  his  presence.  His  entry  took  place  in  the  most  solemn 
hour  of  the  world's  history.  The  unclouded  sun  at  mid- 
day refused  its  light;  and  he  entered  amid  darkened 
heavens,  a  quaking  earth,  opening  graves,  rending  rocks, 
and  angels  mute  with  wonder  approaching  consternation. 
He  transacted  in  heaven  just  what  was  represented  in  the 
holj^  of  holies  on  earth.  God's  throne  stood  like  the 
storm-clad  Sinai,  invested  with  eternal  terrors,  its  central 
fire  rising  amid  threatening  clouds  uttering  their  curses  like 
thunders;  while  between  their  rifts,  flashes  revealed  the 
lightning,  ready  to  avenge  the  insulted  honor  of  the  great 
law.  The  sprinkled  blood  brought  an  entire  change  over 
the  whole  scene;  the  thunders  died,  the  clouds  scattered, 
the  fire  was  quenched ;  and  on  the  summit  now  visible,  the 
seat  of  the  eternal  throne  became  a  cross;  and  over  all 
circled  the  bow  of  peace  and  good  will,  emerald  chiefly  in 
color;  and  from  the  brightness  came  a  voice:  "Father, 
forgive  them;  they  know  not  what  they  do."  "Come  unto 
me  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give 
you  rest."  "And  I  heard  the  voice  of  many  elders  round 
about  the  throne  and  the  beasts  and  the  elders ;  and  the 
number  of  them  was  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand,  and 
thousands  of  thousands;  saying  with  a  loud  voice:  "worthy 
is  the  lamb  that  was  slain  to  receive  power,  and  riches, 
and  Avisdom,  and  strength,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and 
blessing."  And  every  creature  which  is  in  heaven,  and  on 
the  earth,  and  under  the  earth,  and  such  as  are  in  the  sea, 
and  all  that  are  in  them  heard,  saving:  Blessing,  and 
honor,  and  glory,  and  power  be  unto  him  that  sitteth  on 


390  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

the  tliroue,  and  unto  the  lainb  forever  and  ever.  And  the 
four  beasts  said,  Amen;  and  the  four  and  twenty  elders 
fell  down  and  worshipped  him  that  liveth  forever  and 
ever.'' 

This  atonement  of  Christ  is  demanded  by  the  law  if  any 
are  to  be  saved,  and  is  made  to  the  law,  and  is  a  satisfac- 
tion of  the  law.  It  is  not  a  mere  exhibition  on  the  part 
of  God,  a  show  devised  in  order  to  make  an  impression  on 
angels  and  man;  but  its  design  was  to  reconcile  God  to 
the  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  to  make  it  safe  and  honorable 
for  him  to  pass  by  transgressions.  It  was  a  legal  pro- 
ceeding whose  effect  terminates  not  so  much  on  creatures, 
as  upon  the  changeless  Jehovah  himself.  The  whole  temple 
service  was  so  arranged  as  to  show  the  majest^^  and  un- 
changeableness  of  the  law,  as  well  as  the  possibility  and 
reality  of  atonement.  God  exists  according  to  a  neccessity 
of  nature ;  he  is  what  he  is  by  the  same  necessity ;  and  the 
law  stands  by  the  same  identical  necessity.  Right  and 
wrong  are  such,  independently^  of •  the  will  of  God.  The  dis- 
tinction between  moral  precepts  and  positive  enactments 
would  not  exi.st,  if  his  will  alone  clothed  a  statute  with 
essential  and  unchangeable  authority.  His  will  could  never 
impart  to  circumcision  an  obligation  founded  in  nature, 
because  it  is  itself  contrary  to  nature.  The  commands  of 
the  moral  law,  on  the  contrary,  are  based  upon  the  eternal 
fitness  of  things;  and,  with  reverence  be  it  spoken,  are  be- 
yond the  power  of  Jehovah  to  change  or  to  modify.  His 
own  nature  is  conformed  to  them,  and  herein  lies  his 
supreme  excellency ;%  iie  is  not  an  arbitrary  being,  he  is  a 
holy  being.  The  law  is  dearer  to  him  than  the  happiness 
of  all  the  creatures  that  he  has  ever  made.  Being  the  ex- 
pression of  his  own  moral  attributes,  to  surrender  it  would 
be  to  divorce  those  attributes. 

His  law  is  so  perfect  that  the  least  variation  destroys  it 
altogether.  It  has  such  a  unity,  that  to  break  one  com- 
mand is  to  viola,te  the  whole:  to  surrender  one  jot  is  to 
surrender  the  whole.  "If  a  man  keep  the  whole  law,  and 
yet  offend  in  one  point,  he  is  guilty  of  all."  And  if  the 
law-giver  fail  to  enforce  it  in  one  case,  he  abandons  it 
altogether.    The  least  change  is  from  infinite  perfection  to 


CALVARY   AND  ITS   VICTIM.  301 

sin.  Seated  as  Jehovah  is  on  the  throne  of  the  universe, 
with  the  obhg-atioii  resting-  on  him  to  govern,  to  pass  by 
an  offence  would  be  as  heinous,  as  it  was  in  the  first  place 
to  commit  it.  A  jury,  a  judge^  or  a  governor,  that  would 
overlook  a  plain  violation  of  law,  would  be  perhaps  more 
guilty  than  the  perpetrator  of  the  crime  himself.  They  in- 
flict a  far  greater  injury  upon  society. 

Better  far  imperfect  laws  uniformly  and  rigidl^^  enforced, 
than  the  wisest  code  existing  only  on  paper.  The  first 
deviation  by  Jehovah  from  the  line  of  absolute  rectitude 
would  be  just  what  the  first  transgression  by  man  his  sub- 
ject was,  an  entire  dereliction  of  right.  If  perfection  is  to 
be  maintained,  a  variation  of  a  hair's  breadth  from  the 
straight  line  of  right  can  never  take  place. 

Civil  rulers  throughout  Christendom  have  had  great  hesi- 
tation about  the  pardon  of  crimes.  j\Iany  a  man  has 
perished  on  the  scaffold,  whom  the  government  would  have 
spared  if  any  expedient  could  have  been  devised,  by  which 
its  own  honor  could  have  been  sustained.  The  circumstan- 
ces of  some  have  excited  deep  sympathy  in  their  behalf  as 
in  the  case  of  the  lamented  Andre  in  our  revolution. 
Otheis  sincerely  penitent  have  given  certain  promise  of 
good  citizenship  if  released ;  as  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Dodd  in 
England,  in  the  last  century,  for  whose  pardon  the  people 
petitioned  in  vain.  But  as  Lord  Mansfield  forcibly  said, 
if  pardon  be  extended  in  one  case,  all  previously  condemned 
and  executed  under  the  same  law  have  been  murdered. 
The  law  should  be  like  the  law^  of  the  Medes  and  Persians 
which  changeth  not. 

In  the  administration  of  the  divine  government,  the 
mediatorial  work  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  exactly  meets 
this  exigency ;  and  renders  it  possible  and  safe  for  the  hoi}' 
ruler  to  extend  pardon  to  whom  he  may  please,  without 
wea.kening  in  the  least  the  sanctions  of  law  or  relaxing  its 
rigors.  These  ordinances  of  Judaism  are  shadows  of  the 
great  atonement  of  Christ. 

From  them  we  discover  that  the  Messiah  was  typified  by 
the  most  insignificant  representative.  The  animal  of  sac- 
rifice, a  sin-bearer  dying  as  unclean,  burned  as  the  off- 
scouring  of  the  earth;   and  also  in   the  same  ceremony  bj' 


392  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

the  highest  dignitary  of  the  nation,  arraj^ed  more  glori- 
ously than  a  king,  in  robes  worn  on  no  other  day.  Our 
Messiah,  judg-ing  by  the  contempt  accorded  him,  was  the 
least  and  most  despised  of  men,  and  3^et  the  king  of 
heaven's  glor3\  In  him  the  two  extremes  of  being  meet; 
man  of  the  lowest  standing,  and  at  the  same  time  God.  Our 
Savior  not  only  became  man;  but  man  in  the  lowest  con- 
dition of  life.  The  abjectness  of  his  lot  however  is  no 
drawback  to  our  faith,  but  rather  the  strongest  possible 
confirmation  of  his  highest  claims.  For  him  to  have  come 
in  the  character  of  a  mighty  prince  and  conqueror,  as  his 
people  expected  him,  would  have  been  the  greatest  encour- 
agement to  pride,  and  pomp,  and  worldliness  that  the 
human  race  could  possibly  receive;  and  would  have  been 
in  violation  of  his  own  unworldly  precepts.  He  was  "a 
worm  and  no  man"  to  human  apprehension.  He  was  folly 
to  the  Greeks,  and  to  the  Jews  a  stumbling  block,  meek, 
non-resistant,  unobtrusive.  Yet  under  all  this  seeming 
weakness,  he  was  the  uncreated  being  to  whom  suns  are 
not  more  than  glittering  dust,  scattered  about  his  throne; 
to  whose  glance  eternity  is  a  present  now ;  by  the  blast 
of  whose  nostrils  all  creatures  would  drop  into  their  origi- 
nal nothing,  and  still  there  would  be  no  loss';  for  he  would 
still  exist. 

These  types  declare  the  infinite  compassion  of  our  Re- 
deemer. The  office  of  the  high  priest  was  an  office  of  sym- 
pathy and  love.  The  incumbent  may  have  often  been  a 
violent  and  hardened  ruffian ;  yet  the  office  was  one  of  un- 
mingled  kindness  and  affection.  It  evidently  demanded  a 
man  who  felt  the  woes  of  others  as  his  own;  who,  encom- 
passed by  infirmity  himself,  was,  by  his  station,  expected 
to  grieve  with  the  mourner,  weep  over  the  erring,  and 
sympathize  with  all  the  children  of  suffering.  If  true  to  his 
work,  he  would  show  no  deference  to  authority,  never  over- 
look the  poor,  and  stand  between  the  living  God  and  his 
offending  people  as  a  mediator;  with  unalterable  zeal  for 
Jehovah's  honor,  and  a  heart  bleeding  for  his  people's 
welfare.  Hence  "Holiness  to  the  Lord"  shone  from  his 
forehead;  and  upon  his  heart  a  jeweled  plate  bore  the 
names  of  the  tribes,  which  sometimes  glistened  with  super- 


•       CALVARY   AND  ITS   VICTIM.  393 

natural  splendors;  and  then  became  the  Urini  and  Thum- 
mim.  The  face  of  Jesus  was  lightened  with  zeal  for  God, 
and  on  his  living-  heart  stood  inscribed  the  names  of  his 
people.  The  love  of  Christ  can  be  only  feebly  represented 
by  the  most  glowing  types:  it  stands  above  all  comparison; 
and  like  the  throne  of  Jehovah,  outshines  all  else.  He  felt 
our  sorrows  as  his  own.  Our  miseries  made  no  transient 
impression;  but  wore  a  deep  trace  upon  his  heart. 

They  teach  that  he  died  for  human  sin.  The  sins  of  men 
were  "laid  upon  him,''  "put  upon  his  head,"  in  the  lan- 
guage of  Lev.  16:  21.  He  was  treated  as  guilty  of  all  the 
outward  crimes  and  inward  corruption  of  the  race.  This 
is  the  only  possible  explanation  of  his  sufferings,  which  are 
the  greatest  anomaly  in  the  annals  of  the  universe.  When 
sinners  suffer  we  are'not  surprised ;  but  that  the  holy,  holy, 
holy  one  should  agonize,  endure  death  Avith  all  its  most 
aggravated  horrors  of  a  physical  nature,  and  in  addition 
sustain  a  mental  anguish  wholly  unexampled  and  inexpli- 
cable, and  expire  seemingly  abandoned  of  God  and  man, 
and  in  the  convulsions  of  sympathizing  nature,  and  strange 
movements  in  the  world  of  the  invisible,  passes  wonder. 
The  Scripture  exposition  of  it  alone  merits  attention.  The 
vials  of  Jehovah's  anger  for  human  sin,  were  poured  upon 
him  without  mixture  and  without  reserve,  "And  justice 
poured  upon  his  head  its  heavy  vengeance  in  our  stead." 

4.  They  teach  farther  that  his  atonement  for  human 
guilt  was  full  and  adequate.  He  more  than  honored  the 
law  of  God,  he  magnified  it.  It  nowhere  is  seen  so  fearfully 
inexorable  in  its  demands,  and  so  absolutely  certain  in  its 
penalty,  as  in  the  light  of  the  cross.  Jehovah  could  accept 
nothing  less  than  the  uttermost  farthing  of  his  claims ;  and 
he  has  pronounced  the  work  of  Christ  a  satisfaction  to  his 
law.  Its  virtue  is  derived  from  the  infinite  greatness  of  the 
sufferer, 

0,  ye  who  delight  in  the  excitement  of  tales  of  fiction! 
the  most  exciting,  the  most  astonishing  story  you  can  read, 
is  the  story  of  the  cross.  No  romance  of  human  imagina- 
tion is  so  strange  and  novel.  The  dreams  of  the  wildest 
fancy  cannot  be  so  marvelous,  as  the  great  fact  of  "God 
manifest  in  the  flesh."     If  you  love  a  tale  in  which  there 


394  THE  GREAT   SACRIFICE,         , 

is  obscurity  flnall3'  unraveled;  whose  plot  is  laid  on  the 
grandest  scale;  whose  actors  perform  the  mightiest  deeds; 
and  which  have  a  tragical  end,  that  leaves  you  aghast 
with  surprise;  let  me  point  you  to  the  work.  It  is  no  fic- 
tion. It  has  more  than  truth  to  recommend  it  to  your 
attention.  It  is  the  great  scene  of  a  drama  conceived  in 
eternity,  whose  stage  is  the  world,  whose  head  is  the  Son 
of  God ;  in  which  you  are  one  of  the  actors ;  and  which  will 
end  in  life  or  death  eternal  to  you,  as  you  ma}-  be  his 
friend  or  his  enemv. 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  395 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


THE  RESURRECTION. 


General  Proofs. 

The  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  might  have  been  accom- 
phshed  secretly,  unwitnessed  by  the  ^.testimony  which  the 
world  possesses;  but  the  race  would  lack  the  evidence  that 
he  had  triumphed :  that  his  sufferings  entered  into  his 
original  plan;  and  that  his  enemies,  by  inflicting  them,  had 
but  fulfilled  his  own  intention.  His  career  would  have  ended 
in  unmitigated  ignominy  and  gloom,  instead  of  glorj'. 
There  would  have  been  evidence  sufficient  that  he  had  risen 
from  the  dead,  if  no  exhibition  of  his  resurrected  person 
had  been  afforded.  He  had  died  seemingly  under  the  frown 
of  heaven,  and  really  by  the  wrath  of  earth  and  hell. 
What  was  most  inexplicable,  his  previously  imperturbable 
composure  had  been  interrupted.  The  cloud  hung  over 
him,  and  deepened  and  thickened  to  the  last.  The  hopes 
of  his  disciples  went  out  with  his  life ;  and  when  he  gave  up 
the  ghost,  their  expectations  perished.  Though  his  atoning 
work  was  complete,  and  could  derive  no  additional  efficacy 
from  his  open  resurrection ;  though  it  might  have  occurred 
in  a  way  eluding  the  scrutiny  of  man ;  yet  it  pleased  him 
to  give  his  followers  a  glimpse  of  his  triumph,  through  wit- 
nesses chosen  before  of  God.    Even  this  was  not  deserved. 

1.  He  was  truly  dead.  When  it  became  necessary  to 
accelerate  the  death  of  the  crucified  by  breaking  their  legs, 
the  soldiers  refrained  from  violence  to  the  body  of  Jesus; 
because  thej^  saw  that  he  was  already  dead.  The  collapsed 
frame,  the  head  sunken  on  the  bosom,  the  ghastly  features 
as  of  one  worn  out  by  intolerable  agonies,  the  gaping  mouth 
and  staring  eyes,  were  proof.  Out  of  inei-e  wantonness,  one 
of  the  soldiers,  with  his  spear,  pierced  his  sunken  side;  and 
the  iron  reached  his  very  heart.    The  blood  had  already 


396  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

coagulated  in  the  pericardium  (which  does  not  usually  take 
place  in  a  corpse  under  twenty-four  hours) ;  "and  forthwith 
came  there  out  blood  and  water,"  the  serum  and  clots.  All 
had  before  agreed  that  he  was  truly  dead;  and  had  this, 
not  been  the  case,  this  wound  of  itself  would  have  been 
fatal.  The  whole  blood  of  the  circulation  had  been  appa- 
rently collected  in  the  pericardium.  Never  was  a  human 
body  more  completely  drained  of  the  last  drop  of  the  vital 
fluid.  The  idea  of  a  possible  resuscitation  of  a  body  in 
this  condition  is  thoroughly  absurd.  A  return  to  life  of  a 
body  so  wounded  by  rupture  of  the  heart,  and  a  rent  in 
the  pericardium,  is  insupposable. 

The  reappearance  of  the  crucified  could  be  nothing  else 
than  a  resurrection.  His  ability  to  walk  upon  his  pierced 
feet,  and  use  his  inflamed  hands,  forbid  the  explanation  by 
resuscitation.  Had  he  lain  in  the  tomb  for  three  years 
instead  of  three  days,  his  return  to  life  would  have  been 
no  more  miraculous.  He  resumed  life  b^^  his  own  inherent 
power;  it  was  impossible  that  he  should  be  holden  of 
death. 

II.  The  body  had  been  safely  deposited.  "He  made  his 
grave  with  the  rich"  man  "in  his  death."  Near  the  place  of 
his  execution  was  a  new  sepulchre,  in  which  no  body  had 
yet  been  laid,  hewn  out  of  the  solid  rock,  and  embowered 
in  a  garden :  there  was  no  other  tomb  in  the  vicinity. 
Joseph  of  Arimathea,  lately  become  a  resident  of  the  holy 
city,  had  prepared  it  for  himself  and  family.  It  was  a 
costly  tomb,  and  attractive  in  its  surroundings. 

Here  Joseph  himself  bestowed  the  corpse,  wrapped  in 
linen  cloths,  with  spices  enveloping  it  on  every  side.  The 
common  mode  of  preparing  a  body  was  to  enswathe  each 
limb  with  its  spices  in  linen  wrappings,  and  afterwards 
similarly  to  wrap  the  whole  in  one  case.  For  the  lack  of 
time  a  bed  of  spices  had  been  made  upon  the  floor  of  the 
tomb,  the  body  laid  upon  it,  and  covered  with  other  spices ; 
and  the  whole  mass  enswathed  with  the  long  strips  of  the 
cloth.  After  such  a  burial,  a  large  stone  "very  great"  had 
been  rolled  against  the  opening;  as  the  tomb  lacked  the 
door  that  would  have  finished  the  work.  The  enemies  of 
the  Nazarene,   "the  rulers,"  were  satisfied  with  the  place; 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  397 

it  could  be  made  perfectly  safe.  They  were  not  desirous  of 
removing  the  corpse;  but  by  the  governor's  permission,  iu 
order  to  prevent  any  scheme  of  fraud  on  the  part  of  the 
disciples,  they  surrounded  the  spot  with  a  file  of  Roman 
soldiers,  after  examining  and  being  satisfied  that  the  tomb 
actually  contained  the  body.  They  also  sealed  the  stone 
with  the  great  seal  of  the  nation,  to  break  which  was  pun- 
ishable at  their  will,  making  the  body  a  state  prisoner. 
His  own  tomb  thus  sealed  and  stamped,  Joseph  himself 
durst  not  enter. 

These  men  remembered  well  our  Lord's  predictions  of  his 
resurrection.  They  knew  the  importance  of  preventing  im- 
position; and  were  resolved  that  it  should  not  be  prac- 
ticed; being  aware  that  putting  him  to  death  was  worse 
than  in  vain,  if  he  should  arise  from  the  dead,  or  if  it 
were  generally  believed  that  he  did.  So  well  did  they  know 
this,  that  they  spent  the  Sabbath  in  perfecting  their  ar- 
rangements. It  was  their  evident  intention  to  produce  his 
dead  body  on  the  third  day,  and  to  heap  upon  the  unfeel- 
ing clay  new  insults,  perhaps  drag  it  through  the  streets 
of  Jerusalem,  and  cast  it  out  to  their  Gehenna,  or  to  the 
beasts  of  the  field  and  the  fowls  of  the  air.  This  produc- 
tion of  the  corpse  appeared  to  them  necessary  for  their  Jus- 
tification in  the  eyes  of  many  of  the  people,  who  had, 
perhaps,  inwardly  shuddered  at  what  had  occurred,  as 
w^ell  as  for  their  own  satisfaction;  for  there  was  a  pos. 
sibility  still  that  he  might  prove  to  be  the  Christ.  All 
that  could  be  done  to  guard  it  was  done. 

III.  Yet  the  body  on  the  third  day  was  gone :  and  they 
accused  the  disciples  of  stealing  it;  while  these  declared, 
that  their  master  was  risen  from  the  dead.  Now  if  the 
rulers  had  known  certainly,  that  these  eleven  men  stole 
the  body  of  their  master ;  their  enmity  against  them  would 
have  been  a  thousand  fold  greater  than  it  had  been  agaiost 
him.  The  rulers  were  men  exasperated  to  the  highest  pitch 
of  passion,  more  fierce  than  ravening  wolves,  having  the 
bulk  of  the  nation  in  sympathy  with  them,  and  the  power 
in  their  hands.  Eleven  of  their  subjects,  without  influence 
or  friends,  break  the  state  seal,  steal  the  most  important 
deposit,  which  that  seal  ever  guarded,  charge   upon  their 


398  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

rulers  the  commission  of  the  most  heinous  crime  ever  per- 
petrated on  earth,  and  what  comes?  Certain!}^,  worse  than 
crucifixion.  Woe  to  the  daring-  wretchs  who  array  them- 
selves against  the  desperation  of  a  company  of  infuriated 
tyrants  with  power  in  their  hands  and  the  nation  encour- 
ageiug  them!  A  tenfold  fiercer  attack  upon  these  men 
might  be  expected.    But  no  such  result  follows. 

They  commenced  their  onset  upon  Christianity  with  an 
impetuosity  that  broke  over  every  obstacle;  but  in  the 
midst  of  their  career,  when  their  work  is  but  half  done, 
they  pause,  refrain,  adopt  milder  counsels,  suffer  themselves 
to  be  stigmatized  with  guilt  that  lacks  a  name,  and  cower 
before  their  own  weak  and  defenseless  subjects.  Did  ever 
wild  beast,  stung  to  uncontrollable  fury,  and  dashing  at 
his  opponent  with  his  glaring  e3^e  fall  upon  him,  pause  in 
his  headlong  course,  stagger,  and  decline  the  fight,  unless  he 
had  received  his  mortal  wound?  Let  the  lion  make  his  onset, 
get  one  taste  of  blood,  and  he  is  at  once  irresistible ;  he 
will  assuredly  complete  his  begun  work  of  destruction.  If  he 
retreats,  he  has  received  his  death- wound.  Between  the  tone 
of  the  rulers  towards  Jesus  Christ,  and  their  tone  towards 
his  infinitely  more  obnoxious  disciples,  there  is  an  immense 
difference.  At  the  one  time  it  was  blood,  blood,  blood : 
and  immediately  after  it  was:  "refrain  from  these  men;  if 
this  work  be  of  God,  ye  cannot  overthrow  it;  lest  haply 
be  3"e  found  fighting  against  God," — a  sentiment  unani- 
mously responded  to  by  them.  Ah!  the}^  had  met  with 
that  which  made  them  pause,  and  suggested  milder  meas- 
ures. The  awful  prodigies  attending  the  crucifixion  made 
them  shudder;  but  did  not  daunt  them.  They  still  took 
their  measures  and  carried  them  out.  Something  more 
appalling  still  had  intervened :  and  they  stand  like  a 
ruffian,  who  has  dealt  one  blow  upon  his  unresisting  enemy, 
a^d  raised  his  hand  to  finish  the  work  of  death  b}^  an- 
other; but  that  hand,  instead  of  descending  in  power,  falls 
nerveless;  and  the  sword  drops  out  of  its  clutch.  Some- 
thing has  intervened. 

The  priests  never  publicly  charged  the  disciples  with  this 
theft;  nor  did  they  even  so  much  as  allude  to  it.  The 
story  of  the  soldiers  bears  on  its  face  the  marks  of  false- 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  399 

hooil ;  when  it  is  reported  that  they  were  overmastered  by 
eleven  desponding  men;  while  themselves  were  in  a  dead 
sleep,  yet  knew  what  was  passing-,  and  recognized  the  as- 
sailants; but  could  not  stir  to  prevent  them.  Men  of  sol- 
dierly pride  would  never  admit  such  a  failure  in  duty,  at 
the  peril  of  their  own  lives  also.  That  the  rulers  made  no 
attempt  to  secure  their  punishment,  proves  them  unbe- 
lievers in  their  own  version  of  the  matter. 

IV.  The  eleven  disciples  were  incapable  of  executing  such 
a  scheme.  The  tale  of  their  enemies  charges  them  not  only 
with  the  rescue  of  the  body;  but  with  devising  and  pro- 
pagating the  whole  system  of  Christianit^'^ ;  and  that,  too, 
"beginning  at  Jerusalem."  Now  these  men,  and  they  are 
to  be  believed  when  they  testify  against  themselves,  so  far 
from  deceiving  the  people,  did  not  themselves  believe  that 
their  master  would  actually  rise  from  the  dead.  They  were 
"offended  because  of  him,"  and  debated  in  their  hearts, 
whether  he  were  not  a  mere  human  though  highly  gifted 
leader;  and  himself  deceived  as  to  his  own  pretensions. 
They  were  through  fear  not  present  through  any  length  of 
time  at  his  crucifixion;  but  one  of  them  saw  him  die.  All 
proved  traitors  to  him.  After  his  death,  they  were  afraid 
to  be  seen  together  in  a  body  in  the  streets  of  the  city: 
and  when  they  met  it  was  at  night,  by  stealth,  and  behind 
a  locked  door.  They  were  so  oppressed  by  a  criminal  un- 
belief, that  while  the  story  of  the  soldiers  convinced  the 
priests  of  the  resurrection,  the  testimony  of  those  who 
had  seen  him  did  not  convince  them,  in  losing  Jesus  they 
had  lost  all ;  their  fond  expectations  had  vanished ;  grief 
had  settled  in  paralyzing  stupor  upon  their  souls;  and 
Satan  filled  their  minds  with  the  direst  temptations. 

As  they  believed,  the  corpse  was  in  the  custody  of 
friends ;  and  would  continue  ever  to  be  an  infallible  reminder 
of  their  own  vain  hopes,  and  crushing  disappointment. 
They  did  not  appreciate  the  indescribably  mighty  interests 
that  centered  around,  and  depended  on  that  helpless  clay ; 
and  took  no  steps  even  to  preserve  it  from  being  cast  out. 
As  his  memory  could  never  be  obliterated  from  their  minds, 
every  relic  of  their  former  guide  would  be  precious :  but 
they  were   too   completely  stunned    even    to  remember,  to 


400  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

plan,  or  as  much  as  to  take  thought.  Now  the  stor}^  of 
the  priests  charges  these  men,  as  the  sole  authors  of  Chris- 
tianity, with  plotting  and  devising  for  forty  days  in  Jeru- 
salem, the  boldest  imposture  ever  conceived,  and  beguiling 
the  whole  world  with  it.  Other  impostors  have  invariably 
laid  their  schemes,  and  felt  out  their  wa3^  in  times  of  set- 
tled indifference  concerning  them.  While  the  world  was 
still,  careless  and  off  its  ffuard,  they  have  laid  deep  their 
well  digested  plans,  and  prepared  their  imposture.  But  in 
the  case  under  consideration,  in  the  short  space  of  forty 
days,  the  whole  scheme  of  Christianity  was  devised,  and 
under  the  keen  sunlight  of  hostile  publicity.  And  when  it 
was  born,  and  the  woman  was  ready  to  be  delivered  of  a 
man-child,  who  should  rule  the  nations  with  a  rod  of  iron; 
before  her  stood  watching  the  great  dragon,  ready  to  de- 
vour the  fruit  of  her  womb  as  soon  as  it  should  appear. 
And  had  it  been  the  result  of  mere  human  invention,  it 
would  have  been  destroyed  as  soon  as  it  saw  the  hght. 
How  was  it,  that  it  was  born  in  the  face  of  the  dragon, 
and  there  lived  and  grew  to  its  great  destiny? 

The  assumptions  of  the  papacj^  w^ere  gradual  and  with 
the  consent  of  all  parties.  ]\Iahomet's  system  was  matured 
amidst  the  indifference  of  the  world,  and  spread  only  because 
political  alliance  gave  it  an  introduction.  But  can  it  be 
supposed,  that  honest  and  simple-hearted  men,  who  have 
been  the  dupes  of  the  greatest  of  impostors,  should  in  the 
hour  when  keen  disappointment  palsied  their  souls  in  them, 
band  together  to  invent  a  scheme  of  deception,  and  impose 
it  on  mankind?  Nt.  If  their  master  were  a  deceiver,  they 
were  the  greatest  dupes,  the  most  injured  of  all;  and  as 
soon  might  the  doctrines  of  the  impostor  be  propagated 
by  a  league  of  his  enemies,  as  by  his  disciples;  when  they 
had  lost  the  power  of  invention,  and  the  heart  to  exert 
themselves  in  behalf  of  any  system.  That  there  should  be 
no  discrepancy  in  the  statements  of  eleven  men,  and  no 
treachery  among  them  is  incredible.  It  is  the  only  instance 
on  re<^ord,  in  which  imposture  was  conceived  and  carried 
out  by  more  than  one  individual. 

Their  speech  and  conduct  are  such  as  belong  only  to 
honest^',  sincerity  and  conviction.    They  accuse  themselves 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  401 

of  the  basest  cowardice  and  treacherv  in  the  face  of  re- 
peated professions  of  attachment.  They  acknowledge  an 
nnbehef  more  stubborn  than  the  willful  blindness  of  the 
priests  and  rulers.  They  admit  fears  to  have  overwhelmed 
them  altogether,  and  to  have  intimidated  them  to  the  for- 
getfulness  of  every  oblig-atioD.  They  confess  that  their 
minds  were  filled  with  direful  temptations  and  doubts  of 
their  master,  which  clung  to  them  with  a  tenacity,  which 
the  temptations  of  Satan  alone  possess  over  souls  dis- 
pirited, crushed,  and  on  the  verge  of  despair.  They  had 
been  afraid  to  follow  him  to  Jerusalem,  and  had  gone  with 
trembling;  their  fears  had  yielded,  and  expectations  had 
arisen,  that  his  great  promises  of  a  kingdom  would  be 
realized;  but  this  last  prop  of  their  faith  was  gone;  the 
huge  waves  and  billows  of  fear  had  gone  over  them ;  and 
the  sea  of  unbelief  had  swallowed  them  up. 

Their  testimony  to  the  resurrection  of  Christ  was  offered 
amidst  tears  of  the  most  evident  compunction.  Themselves 
they  accused,  as  strongly  as  did  the  open  enemies  of  their 
Lord.  It  were  easier  for  them  to  die  by  violence  than 
suppress  the  truth,  which  men  hatep  to  hear;  which  they 
had  been  base  enough  to  betray  by  the  forsaking  of  their 
master :  a  crime  which  they  could  never  repeat.  They  were 
bolder  in  consequence  of  their  former  cowardice  and  in  pro- 
portion to  it. 

V.  Let  the  change  in  the  feelings  and  conduct  of  those 
simple: hearted  men  be  considered.  From  the  da^^  of  the 
Pentecost  more  courageous  men  were  never  seen.  They  ex- 
hibited a  bravery  far  superior  to  the  physical  courage  of 
Alexander,  Csesar  or  Bonaparte.  All  the  vaunted  captains 
of  this  bloody  earth  fail  in  their  exhibition  of  an  equal 
heroism.  Luther  at  Worms  has  admirers  throughout  the 
christian  world;  but  Luther  had  strong  supporters,  and  he 
knew  it.  The  complexion  of  pohtical  affairs  was  such  as 
to  favor  him,  and  to  render  the  emperor  less  hasty  in 
obhging  the  Pope.  Even  Luther's  peril  was  far  beneath 
that,  in  which  the  apostles  stood:  men  without  a  leader, 
unlearnad  and  ignorant  men,  bound  together  only  bA' 
truth,  and  literally  facing  a  frowning  world. 

26 


402  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

What  could  have  elevated  them  from  their  extreme  de- 
pression of  cowardice,  to  the  siiblimest  heroism,  but  the 
certain  knowledge  that  their  Lord  had  arisen  from  the  dead? 
Their  conduct  shows  the  sincerity  of  full  conviction  and 
absolute  knowledge.  This  courage  is  the  more  admirable 
from  the  tenderness  which  accompanied  it.  They  were 
not  contending  against  the  rulers  or  the  nation;  but  weep- 
ing over  them,  calling  then  brethren,  expressing  for  them 
their  continual  heaviness  and  sorrow  of  heart  over  their 
unbelief. 

The}'  had  no  earthly  motive  ui'ging  them  to  their  chosen 
course.  They  sought  not  wealth;  for  when  money  was 
laid  at  their  feet  in  piles,  they  sho^^'ed  that  they  would  not 
stoop  to  pick  it  up  for  themselves :  they  sought  not  au- 
thority and  command ;  for  they  might,  if  disposed  like  Ro- 
man bishops,  have  aggrandized  themselves  more  than  other 
mortals  have  ever  done:  but  none  of  these  things  moved 
them.  They  sought  martyrdom,  and  they  found  it;  they 
drank  of  the  cup,  of  which  their  Lord  drank,  and  were  bap- 
tized with  his  baptism.  Unlike  impostors,  they  courted  in- 
vestigation, and  asserted  the  truth  just  where  it  could  be 
demonstrated  to  be  untrue,  if  that  were  possible;  and  estab- 
lished it  in  the  very  city  in  which  earth  and  hell  had  com- 
bined to  crush  it.  Easier  far  were  it  for  Daniel  to  sink 
without  trembling  into  the  den  of  lions,  than  for  men  to 
assert  the  resurrection  of  the  Xazarene  in  Jerusalem.  But 
it  was  there  they  bore  their  testimony,  loving  the  truth 
better  than  they  loved  their  lives.  If  such  conduct  and 
such  testimony  cannot  establish  fact,  and  force  conviction 
upon  honest  minds,  human  testimony  can  establish  nothing. 

VI.  His  resurrection  from  the  dead  is  the  most  wonder- 
ful event  of  his  wonderful  history.  When  he  was  born 
there  were  wonders  in  the  sky  and  on  the  earth.  When  he 
entered  upon  his  ministry  fresh  wonders  marked  the  period. 
Every  day  of  the  ministry  added  to  the  catalogue  of  mar- 
vels, which  had  aroused  and  electrified  the  nation.  But 
none  of  them  compares  with  the  scene  at  the  tomb,  on  the 
morning  of  the  third  day.  While  the  keepers,  fresh  from 
their  nightly  repose,  stood  marshaled  about  it  armed  with 
shield  and  spear;  and  the  first  blush  of  early  dawn  was 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTOI.  403 

marking-  the  eastern  sky;  the  o-roaniiigs  of  the  (]uaking 
earth,  and  the  swayings  of  the  ground  under  their  feet, 
made  stout  hearts  throb  with  fear,  and  aroused  the  sleep- 
ing city.  Before  a  word  could  be  exchanged  with  one 
another,  a  supernatural  light  shone  upon  them;  and 
suddenly  an  awful  angel  was  in  their  very  midst,  the 
flash  of  whose  eyes  was  lightning,  and  his  raiment  lus- 
trous with  heaven's  whiteness.  For  fear  of  him  the  keepers 
trembled,  and  became  as  dead  men,  incapable  of  voice  or 
motion.  Regarding  not  their  presence,  nor  the  state  seal, 
but  commissioned  from  a  higher  court,  he  approached  the 
tomb,  and  beckoned  awa,y  the  stone,  and  sat  upon  it. 

Such  an  enemy,  sword  and  spear  were  not  made  to 
hinder.  With  the  most  terrible  composure,  the  new  guard 
of  the  tomb  sat,  until  its  quickened  tenant,  without  haste, 
arose,  ungirded  himself  from  the  cloths,  in  which  he  had 
been  enveloped,  laid  them  by  themselves  at  one  side,  and 
the  napkin  which  had  bound  his  chin  he  refolded  in  its 
still  fresh  creases,  laying  it  apart  from  the  cloths,  and 
walked  forth  from  the  tomb.  Yes,  it  was  he.  It  was  the 
same  majestic  countenance,  the  same  features,  to  Avhich 
love  lent  all  their  light.  His  body  must  have  been  a  per- 
fectly bloodless  bod\%  not  having  a  drop  of  the  life  fluid 
in  it ;  his  heart  was  a  disabled  engine ;  and  there  was,  per- 
haps, an  added  brilliance  to  his  eye;  yet  was  it  "flesh  and 
bone."  He  w^as  gone;  and  not  an  arm  moved  to  hinder  him ; 
there  was  too  much  threatening  in  the  spirit  e^'es,  that  en- 
grossed the  whole  gaze  of  the  guard.  The  limbs  that  were 
there  to  detain  the  prisoner  were  petrified ;  the  risen  one 
once  gone,  and  suddenl3^  as  he  came,  the  fearful  angel  dis- 
appeared, and  the  glare  of  his  fiery  eyes  went  out.  The 
watch  recovering  the  power  of  motion,  and  seeing  their 
stay  no  longer  necessary,  silently,  breathlessly  gathered  up 
their  arms,  and  left  the  dreaded  spot,  to  report  to  their 
employers  the  event.  It  was  by  the  offer  of  money  upon 
money,  and  the  addition  of  'promise  to  promise,  that  they 
were  prevailed  upon  to  nay  among  the  people  what  their 
trembling  tongues  belied,  even  while  it  was  being  uttered. 

What  effect  had  the  news  of  the  resurrection  of  the  crus- 
cified  upon  his  persecutors?    They  had  said:  "let  him  come 


404  THE  GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

dowu  from  the  cross,  and  we  will  believe?"  There  was  a 
far  greater  wonder  in  his  reanimation  to  die  no  more,  than 
if  yet  alive  he  had  come  down  from  the  cross.  They  had 
before  professed  that  a  sign  from  heaven  would  convince 
them.  But  of  all  the  wonders  connected  with  him,  of  all 
that  the  human  mind  could  ask,  here  was  the  greatest.  He 
rose  from  the  dead  to  die  no  more.  B^'  this  "he  was  de- 
clared to  be  the  son  of  God  Avith  power."  Should  all  his 
miracles  fail  to  convince,  this  asserts  his  claim  beyond 
controversy.  Did  it  convince  his  enemies?  It  is  possible 
for  men  to  shut  their  eyes  to  truth,  and  stop  their  ears, 
and  harden  their  hearts  to  the  extent  of  reprobation.  The 
path  pursued  by  the  opposition  led  to  the  pit,  and  had  no 
turn  in  its  course:  they  followed  it  to  the  end. 

Why  did  not  twelve  legions  of  such  awful  protectors  in- 
terpose before,  to  prevent  the  deed  that  set  earth  and  sun 
aghast?  It  was  his  own  will  that  held  them  back  and 
said  as  it  were :  hands  off,  let  them  do  what  seemeth  them 
good :  let  them  show  themselves.  His  heart  was  set  on 
dying  for  men.  When  he  needed  the  aid  of  angels,  they  were 
ready  to  do  his  bidding.  Around  his  cross  had  hung  in 
mute  astonishment  this  fearful  one,  and  the  terrible  angel 
of  the  first-born  in  Egypt,  and  the  one  before  whom  Sen- 
nacherib's host  had  slept  the  sleep,  that  knows  no  waking. 
Their  arm  was  ready  to  deliver;  but  the  love  of  the  great 
surety  would  not  accept  deliverance;  or  be  satisfied  with 
less  than  the  eternal  redemption  of  his  rebel  creatures. 

His  resurrection  was  not  indeed  public;  but  enemies  and 
friends  were  witnesses,  that  it  did  take  place.  It  was  the 
question  of  that  age.  Those,  who  stubbornly  persisted  in 
calling  him  a  deceiver,  resisted  of  course  the  evidence  of 
his  rising  from  the  dead.  On  this  point  the  church  and  its 
enemies  took  issue  in  that  generation.  At  present  it  is 
admitted,  that  no  event  of  history  is  more  firml}'  estab- 
lished by  all  manner  of  evidence:  and  no  one  denies  it, 
unless  he  rejects  all  that  God  has  taught. 

VII.  It  was  a  demonstration  that  he  had  triumphed. 
"  He  was  crucified  in  weakness ;  but  he  was  raised  in  power." 
Earth    and   hell   had    without   restraint  sj)it  their  venom 


CALVARY   AND   ITS  VICTIM.  405 

upon  him.  His  friends  had  thought  him  invuhierable;  and 
the  sight  of  him  yielding  had  scattered  them  all,  and  in- 
flamed tenfold  the  rage  of  his  enemies.  But  his  resurrec- 
tion proved  that  he  had  submitted  voluntarily  to  insult 
and  death:  that  it  was  his  design  to  wear  the  thorne,  re- 
ceive the  buffet  and  the  scourge,  and  expire  upon  the  cross. 
His  enemies  had  but  done  what  he  purposed  that  they 
might  do.  Despair  of  pardon  at  his  hands,  if  he  proved 
to  be  indeed  the  son  of  God,  transformed  them  into  fiends 
intent  on  all  possible  crime.  Little  they  knew  of  his  readi- 
ness to  forgive.  They  had  put  him  to  death  in  the  midst 
of  the  feast  when  the  millions  of  Israel  were  assembled : 
and  their  guarding  of  the  sepulchre  had  advertised  the  un- 
deniable fact  of  his  resurrection  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
Their  own  weapons  had  turned  against  themselves:  into 
the  pit  which  they  had  digged,  themselves  had  fallen. 

Hereby  was  it  also  shown,  that  he  had  prevailed  with 
God  as  a  prince.  That  he  should  suffer  at  the  hands  of 
men  astonished  his  followers;  but  the  agony  of  his  soul 
was  unaccountable.  It  looked  as  though  God  had  for- 
saken him.  He  had  been  overwhelmed  by  anguish;  and 
though,  after  the  first  scene  in  Gethsemane,  there  had  been 
no  more  visible  fainting  or  derangement  of  the  body ;  yet  was 
it  plain  to  their  eyes,  that  his  agony  was  unrelieved:  and 
that  his  life  was  prolonged  only  that  he  might  suffer.  Till 
his  death  he  was  not  delivered :  and  he  seemed  to  die 
accursed  of  God.  The  gloom  of  his  soul  had  deepened; 
and  had  become  a  darkness  that  might  be  felt.  This  to 
his  friends  was  the  inexplicable  circumstance;  and  the  one 
which  Satan  urged  most  effectually  to  their  everthrow. 
This  seemed  to  mark  him  as  an  impostor  successful  for  a 
time;  but  overtaken  finally  with  the  horrors  of  retribution. 

But  he  rose;  and  their  doubts  vanished,  like  the  dark- 
ness before  the  rising  sun.  Their  gloom  was  scattered. 
That  holy  countenance,  disfigured  as  it  had  been  for  hours 
with  agon}^,  now  shone  with  serene  triumph.  God  had  re- 
leased him  from  the  tomb,  declaring  thereby:  "it  is  fin- 
ished;" heaven  is  reconciled. 


406  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

VIII.  He  triumphed  over  death  and  the  grave.  The 
bonds  of  death  formed  as  slight  an  obstacle  in  the  way  of 
his  resurrection,  as  did  the  weapons  of  the  guard.  If  his 
followers  are  conscious  of  his  present  power  removing  hard- 
ness of  heart,  despair,  and  sin  by  a  free  forgiveness;  just 
as  certainly  shall  their  sleeping  dust  feel  the  energy  of  his 
quickening  power.  As  Christ  arose,  to  die  no  more,  so  all 
his  followers  shall.  As  he  ascended  to  the  right  hand  of 
the  Father,  so  shall  his  people  follow  him. 


i: 


CALA^ARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  407 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 


THE  RESURRECTION  OF  JESUS. 


The  Tale  of  the  Soldiers. 

The  subject  of  the  resurrection  of  our  Lord  cannot  be 
too  closel3"  investigated;  as  it  is  the  great  evidence,  on 
which  he  himself  based  his  reception  by  his  own  people  and 
the  world;  the  one  great  fact,  unlike  all  else  in  the  history 
of  the  race,  which  demonstrates  his  mission,  and  declares 
him  with  power  to  be  the  Son  of  God.  'Tis  well  to  view  it 
from  every  side;  and  especially  to  give  close  consideration 
to  the  only  explanation  of  the  occurrence  offered  by  the 
enemies.  If  the  resurrection  did  not  take  place  as  related 
in  the  gospels,  the  true  history  of  the  matter  is  given  in 
the  version  put  forth  by -the  Roman  guard;  that  the 
disciples  stole  the  body  while  they  were  asleep.  If  this 
explanation  bears  evident  marks  of  falsehood  upon  its  face, 
we  are  then  shut  up  to  the  account  given  by  the  evan- 
gelists. 

And  first,  this  explanation  is  the  story  of  men  confessedly 
asleep  at  the  time  of  the  occurrence  of  the  event,  and  very 
soundly  asleep;  as  they  were  not  disturbed  by  the  foot, 
steps  of  approaching  invaders,  and  the  unavoidable  noise 
of  moving  "a  very  great  stone"  from  the  tomb.  If  but  a 
single  one  of  the  four  guards  were  aroused  from  their  light 
and  festive  slumber,  the  robbery  of  the  sepulchre  would 
have  signally  failed ;  or  had  the  corpse  been  in  the  hands 
of  the  robbers,  it  would  have  been  rescued  iustantl3\  But 
the  plea  admits  that  the  guard  continued  in  unbroken 
sleep  during  the  pillage ;  and  onl}^  awoke  to  find  the  thieves 
and  their  booty  gone  past  recovery. 

The  garden  was  probably  a  very  small  plat  of  ground, 
extending  back  to  a  ledge  of  solid  rock,  in  which  a  new 
tomb  had  been  excaA^ated,  whose  floor  was  on  the  level  of 


408  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

the  soil,  or  but  a  trifle  below  the  surface ;  the  four  soldiers 
were  thus  in  close  proximity  to  each  other.  The  beat  of 
one  was  directly  before  the  tomb,  probably;  and  thus  the 
invading'  party  must  have  accomplished  their  work  in  such 
close  neighborhood  to  the  watch,  as  to  have  almost  touched 
them,  unless  the  greatest  precaution  were  taken. 

It  was  certainly  ver^'-  singular  that  all  the  guards,  whose 
business  it  was  to  be  in  constant  motion  along  their 
respective  beats,  should,  without  exception,  have  been  locked 
in  so  profound  a  slumber,  as  to  be  able  to  make  no  definite 
charge ;  neither  specifying  the  number  of  the  assailants,  nor 
identifying  any  one  of  them.  Indeed  by  their  own  confes- 
sion, that  the  disciples  of  Jesus  were  the  miscreants,  was  a 
matter  of  surmise  only ;  as  they  were  unable  to  testify  to 
the  identity  of  any.  Their  utter  ignorance  of  all  the  minor 
circumstances  of  the  theft;  by  what  way  the  aggressors 
came  and  departed;  the  tools  by  whose  use  they  moved 
the  stone;  the  means  by  which  the  sound  of  its  roll  was 
deadened;  how  many  entered  the  sepulchre,  etc.,  confirms 
the  opinion  that  none  of  these  things  really  took  place. 

It  were  easier  to  believe  that  the  great  earthquake  dis- 
placed the  stone  that  closed  the  tomb;  and  that  a  wild 
beast  rushed  in,  and  carried  awaj'  the  missing  body.  The 
soldiers  were  wholly  unable  to  deny  this  explanation, 
according  to  their  own  statement.  The  whole  sum  of  their 
testimony  then  could  be  no  more  than  that  they  were  all  in 
a  dead  sleep  at  the  time,  and  were  whollj^  unable  to  give  an 
account  of  what  took  place,  or  to  designate  the  trespassers 
at  all.  Their  testimony  can  then  be  pronounced  false  with- 
out proceeding  further  in  the  examination ;  as  they  charge 
guilt  upon  parties  of  whose  action  in  the  case,  they  could 
have  no  knowledge  whatever,  according  to  their  own  state- 
rrient.  Men,  confessedly  unfaithful  to  so  great  a  trust  con- 
fided to  them,  cannot  be  implicitly  believed  in  any  state- 
ment. 

'And  then  that  the  guards  should  have  continued  in  so  and 
sleep  during  an  eartlKiuake  is  an  incredible  circumstance. 
Such  an  incident  as  the  motion  of  the  solid  ground,  accom- 
panied by  the  deep  subterranean  groanings  which  always 
attend  it,  more  terrifying  than  all  other  noises  ever  heard, 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  '       409 

produces  the  greatest  panic  ever  experienced.  The  stoutest 
hearts  fail  at  the  sound  and  shock;  though  sunk  in  the 
deepest  slumber,  every  one  is  at  once  astir;  houses  are 
emptied  instantly  of  their  inmates ;  and  the  whole  popula- 
tion awaits  in  breathless  suspense  the  repetition  of  the 
portent.  The  very  brutes  seem  to  have  a  presentiment, 
and  oppi'essed  by  the  death-like  stillness  of  the  air,  mani- 
fest the  greatest  fear  even  before  the  shock  is  felt.  Horses 
tremble  violently,  and  break  from  their  fastenings  if  possi- 
ble; cattle  leave  their  food,  and  roam  in  the  wildest  terror; 
the  smaller  domestic  animals  exhibit  the  same  consterna- 
tion ;   and  men  do  not  sleep. 

To  profess  to  have  continued  sleeping  during  a  "great" 
tremor  of  the  earth  is  to  advertise  a  falsehood.  This  shock 
in  question  was  short ;  but  sharp  and  violent  by  the  testi- 
mony of  inspiration.  Sleeping  guards  might  have  been 
thrown  off  their  feet  by  it,  when  the  surface  of  the  ground 
rolled  like  the  deck  of  a  ship  in  a  heavy  sea ;  and  the  tomb 
of  Jesus  was  the  centre  of  the  disturbance.  If  previously 
asleep,  the  soldiers  in  charge  were  in  one  second  as  wide 
awake,  as  they  ever  were  iu  all  their  lives.  We  were  amazed 
before  at  the  extent  of  their  knowledge  during  a  period  of 
somnolency ;  but  that  an  earthquake  should  only  rock  them 
into  a  sounder  slumber,  makes  too  large  a  draft  upon 
human  credulity ;  and  brands  the  whole  tale  as  a  sheer  in- 
vention, too  coarse  to  be  accepted  by  those  only  to  whom 
reason  is  no  longer  a  guide;  and  whom  God  has  given  up 
to  believe  a  lie.  There  are  still  occasional  believers  in  it; 
there  are  also  occasional  maniacs. 

To  induce  the  soldiers  to  circulate  a  report  so  prejudicial 
to  themselves,  reflecting  upon  them  as  recreant  to  their 
trust,  and  failing  to  such  an  extent  in  their  military  duty, 
required  the  bribe  of  large  money.  This  confession  of  being 
overcome  by  the  stratagem  of  a  few  plotters,  implied  a  dis- 
grace more  grievous  to  thera,  tha.n  any  compunction  for 
denying  the  truth.  They  were  more  open  to  the  consideration 
of  money,  than  they  were  to  all  the  claims  of  truth  and  right- 
eousness. The  ranks  of  the  common  soldiery  of  Rome  were 
filled  from  the  low  and    brutal  classes    of   society,  having 


410  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

little  regard  for  moral  distinctions,  and  a  contempt  for  all 
the  (juestioiis  of  the  superstition  of  the  Je\YS. 

No  lie  can  be  framed  hj  the  most  cunning  experts,  that 
does  not  bear  upon  its  front  the  stamp  of  its  untrust- 
worthiness.  Truth  alone  is  self-consistent,  and  meets  all 
the  demands  of  careful  scrutiny ;  it  alone  can  endure  the 
searching  process,  and  invites  it ;  as  tlie  pure  gold  without 
alloy,  alone  can  abide  the  test  of  the  chemist's  crucible, 
A  lie  passes  among  men  generally  for  the  most  venial  of  all 
sins,  and  enjoys  all  the  extenuations  and  justifications  of 
corrupt  casuistry  often ;  in  this  case  it  derives  its  enormity 
from  the  magnitude  of  the  occasion  which  prompted  it,  and 
the  opposition  to  the  Holy  One  which  it  revealed. 

The  opponents  of  Jesus  constituted  the  party  of  false- 
hood; as  they  charged  that  he  had  forbidden  tribute  to 
Caesar;  that  he  was  stirring  up  the  people  against  Rome; 
that  he  had  threatened  to  destroy  the  Jewish  temple ;  that 
he  deserved  to  die  the  death  of  a  malefactor;  though  a 
chai'ge  that  would  hold  could  not  be  framed  against  him, 
nor  a  witness  be  brought;  that  his  body  did  not  rise;  but 
was  stolen.  Like  all  liars,  who  always  accuse  others  of 
falsehood,  by  their  flippant  denunciation  of  the  apostles 
they  were  proclaiming  their  own  untruth. 

They  would  have  put  to  death  every  one  who  con- 
tradicted them,  had  not  God  mightily  protected  them. 
More  abandoned  and  daring  men  never  lived ;  like  the  fabled 
Sisphus,  they  were  engaged  in  rolling  up  the  steep  sides  of 
a  mountain  a  stone  so  heavy,  that  its  recoil  crushed  them. 

They  formed  tri;3  party  of  violence,  murder  and  fraud. 
These  were  the  men  who  put  Stephen  to  death  for  say- 
ing that  the  temple  should  be  destroyed,  as  their  own 
prophets  had  foretold  ;  Dan  IX :  26 ;  who  would  have  killed 
Saul  of  Tarsus  in  the  streets  of  their  city,  before  he  could 
pass  from  the  tower  Antonia  to  the  council  room,  a  distance 
of  not  many  yards;  and  simply  because  he  preached  to  the 
Gentiles.  With  which  party  was  the  truth?  Has  it  not  been 
decided  b}'  the  God  of  battles,  to  whose  decision  they 
appealed?    His  hand  was  so  evidently  against  them  in  the 


CALVARY  AND  ITS   VICTIM.  411 

destructiou  of  their  city  and  temple;  as  to  extort  from 
Titus  the  repeated  acknowledg-ement,  that  his  success  was 
due  to  the  help  of  heaven. 

These  rulers  were  writhing  under  the  apprehension,  that 
they  had  crucified  their  Messiah;  and  they  were  being- 
branded  with  the  guilt  of  the  greatest  crime  ever  committed 
on  earth.  What  will  not  sin  do?  It  will  assault  the  mes- 
senger of  truth  however  accredited,  and  wet  its  hands  in 
the  blood  of  divine  innocence.  It  will  pursue  the  dead  with 
an  enmity  that  never  falters;  and  breed  the  pestilence  o^ 
deadly  discord  and  strife  so  maliciously,  that  the  world  in 
self-defense  must  arise  to  the  unusual  work  of  crushing  out 
the  Jewish  race  from  under  heaven,  and  shedding  the  last 
drop  of  blood  from  Jewish  veins:  an  unattainable  result, 
yet  one  eagerly  sought.  The  nation  is  as  numerous  still, 
as  it  ever  was  in  the  palmiest  da^^s  of  its  prosperity,  and 
stands  as  a  monument  of  the  divine  anger.  With  which 
party  was  the  truth? 

The  disciples  did  not  desire  the  possession  of  their  master's 
body.  Their  only  Avish  was,  that  it  might  be  preserved 
from  insult  and  disgrace;  that  it  might  not  be  cast  out 
with  the  bodies  of  the  malefactors;  or  dragged  in  heart- 
less mockery  through  the  streets  of  Jesusalem.  They  were 
aware  that  it  had  been  delivered  into  the  custody  of  friends 
and  deposited  in  the  tomb  of  an  avowed  disciple.  The 
question  "cui  bono?''  decides  irreversibly  the  injudicious- 
ness  of  farther  steps.  The  charge  of  the  priests,  which  we 
are  considering,  contained  the  accusation,  that  the  eleven 
wished  the  possession  of  the  bod}^  for  the  purpose  of  decep- 
tion; that  they  were  schemers  engaged  in  concocting  a 
gigantic  fraud,  to  impose  upon  the  credulous  world. 

It  is  undeniable,  however,  that  the  eleven  were  not  mem- 
bers of  a  party,  or  privj^  to  an^^  previousl^^  concerted  plan 
of  combined  action.  Jesus  had  never  consulted,  or  suffered 
advisers;  and  the  disciples  were  not  apprised  of  the  coming 
events  of  the  dread  ordeal,  through  which  they  had  passed, 
whose  successive  occurrences  took  them  by  utter  surprise, 
as  having  misunderstood  all  previous  intimations.  The  idea 
of  a  literal  death  and  an  actual  resurrection  had  never 
entered  their  minds.    Themselves  were  the  dupes  and  vie- 


412  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

tims  of  their  own  misconceptions;  they  were  not  plotters. 
The  whole  histor^'^  shows  that  they  were  not  principals  in 
any  deception:  they  were  merely  spectators,  standing  aghast 
at  an  altogether  unexpected  consummation,  which  paralyzed 
their  very  souls,  and  rendered  them  incapable  of  ordinarily 
wise  procedure. 

The  idea  even  of  preserving  the  body  from  public  insult 
did  not  originate  with  them:  they  were  so  crushed  and 
dispirited  as  to  be  unable  to  take  a  single  step  at  their 
own  suggestion.  The  events  of  that  passover  had  stupe- 
fied their  souls  to  that  degree,  that  nothing  seemingl^^  had 
power  to  arouse  them;  they  had  lost  the  ability  to  invent. 
They  had  yielded  to  the  fiercest  storm  of  angry  feeling, 
that  ever  burst  upon  the  heads  of  unsuspecting  victims; 
which  had  swept  away  their  leader ;  and  held'  his  mangled 
body  as  a  menace  of  the  vengeance  preparing  for  them. 

They  were  momentarily  fearing  their  own  arrest,  which 
had  been  purposed  by  the  leaders:  a  price  was,  as  it  were, 
already  set  upon  their  heads;  and  they  durst  not  be  seen 
upon  the  street  in  company;  nor  meet  except  in  an  upper 
room,  locked  against  intrusion.  Treachery  in  their  own 
band  had  deepened  the  hue  of  their  mistrust.  Not  a  ray 
of  encouragement  shone  upon  them,  and  the  memory  of 
their  Lord's  predicted  return  to  life  had  completely  vanished. 

That  while  they  were  aching  under  the  sense  of  the  keen- 
est disappointment,  and  trembling  for  their  lives,  they 
should  combine  to  give  a  false  version  of  the  history,  which 
would  imperil  them  a  thousand  fold  more,  for  no  motive 
of  gain  of  any  kir.d,  it  is  difficult  to  believe.  The  account 
which  they  give  under  all  this  pressure  is  the  truth. 

Every  one  conversant  with  the  facts,  sees  that  these  men 
were  honest  seekers  after  truth,  as  they  afterwards  became 
its  fearless  defenders.  The  enemies  were  not  endeavoring 
to  pi-event  them  from  conspiring  in  a  falsehood;  but  to 
keep  them  silent,  and  restrain  them  from  uttering  the  truth. 
They  were  men  of  conviction,  refusing,  with  reliance  upon 
God,  to  be  intimidated.  They  could  not  "but  speak  the 
things  which  they  had  seen  and  heard,"  in  obedience  to  an 
authoritative  divine  command.  That  the  nation  under- 
stood the  truth  to  be  with  them,  is  clear  from  the  numbers 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  413 

who  forsook    the  party  of  falsehood,  and  gave  their  adhe- 
sion to  the  side  of  truth,  in  the  face  of  bitter  persecution. 

The  treatment  which  the  soldiers  received  is  proof  of  the 
resurrection  of  Jesus.  By  the  demands  of  the  Roman  mili- 
tary code,  guards,  who  had  slept  upon  their  post,  were 
punishable  with  death.  This  is  the  law  of  military  service 
in  our  day;  but  the  Roman  discipline,  unalterable  as  the 
laws  of  the  Medes  and  Persians,  was  rigidly  enforced.  With 
us  deserters  are  seldom  shot;  and  some  evasion  of  the  law 
is  discovered  for  the  sleeping  sentinel;  but  in  the  iron  age 
of  Roman  ascendency,  no  mitigation  of  the  stern  and  merci- 
less demands  of  the  army  service  was  indulged.  Discipline 
never  slackened  out  of  consideration  for  human  life:  it  never 
sickened  at  the  sight  of  human  gore.  The  citizens  of  Rome 
were  educated  from  childhood  to  the  view  of  blood.  The 
"spectacles,"  which  delighted  the  populace,  and  gathered 
them  almost  daily  in  crowding  myriads,  were  contests  of 
men  with  men  or  with  hungry  wild  beasts,  whose  termina- 
tion was  always  in  the  sacrifice  of  human  life,  the  sight  of 
which  sacrifice  was  the  culmination  of  the  entertainment. 

Its  Colosseum  seated  eighty  thousand  spectators;  and  its 
arena  was  almost  continually  soaked  with  blood ;  and  the 
stern  gratification  of  the  hearts  of  iron,  female  as  well  as 
male,  knew  no  bounds;  when  the  popular  favorites  in  the 
ring  went  down  one  after  another  in  death.  "The  rigor  of 
their  military  order  was  never  relaxed." 

The  apostle  Peter  once  lay  in  Herod's  dungeon,  chained 
between  two  soldiers;  while  two  others  kept  ward  in  their 
respective  stations  outside.  In  the  morning  Peter  was 
gone,  the  two  outside  watchers  having  slept,  as  rightly 
thinking  their  guard  superfluous,  and  unnecessar}-.  The  re- 
sult was  that  Herod  commanded  the  four  keepers  to  be 
put  to  death,  as  having  lost  their  man.  It  is  not  easy  to 
see  why  the  two  watchmen  inside  should  have  suffered  the 
extreme  penalty;  as  they  were  authorized  and  expected  to 
sleep:  their  prisoner  being  wholly  unable  to  escape  without 
disturbing  them. 

There  was  no  foolery  about  Roman  discipline:  its  rules 
were  bloody,  and  knew  no  relaxation.  If  these  men,  who 
watched  the  tomb  of   Jesus,  had  been  really  careless  and 


414  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

sleeping,  no  power  could  have  saved  them  from  death. 
The  Jewish  priests,  frantic  at  the  loss  of  the  body,  would 
have  demanded  the  enforcement  of  the  law ;  the  governor, 
indignant  at  the  breach  of  discipline,  would  have  ordered 
their  instant  execution ;  for  nothing  connected  w'ith  the 
Xazarene  could  be  concealed  from  his  jealous  scrutiny.  The 
fact,  that  these  men  were  not  harmed  nor  censured,  is  ])roof 
that  the  governor  understood  the  case  perfectly:  and  the 
further  fact,  that  the  priests  urged  for  no  punishment  for 
men  criminally  careless  over  a  charge  more  important  than 
was  ever  committed  to  the  keeping  of  a  guard,  confirms 
the  opinion. 

These  men  had  no  need  of  sleep;  they  were  fresh  from  the 
repose  of  the  early  night;  and  their  duty  did  not  begin 
until  the  cock-crowing  about  3  A.  M.  and  lasted  only  three 
hours.  The  time  in  all  the  armies  of  modern  service  is  four 
hours;  and  the  boys,  when  simply  in  camp,  make  light  of 
it.  These  men  were  not  worn  by  previous  vigil,  nor  ex- 
hausted by  campaign  duty  during  the  day.  The  case  might 
have  been  different ;  if  this  had  occurred  at  a  time  when 
the  legionaries  were  in  active  service,  and  oppressed  with 
wearing  efforts.  ]\Ien,  as  they  were,  of  the  highest  physical 
vigor,  accustomed  to  the  labors  and  hardships  of  ancient 
warfare,  having  enjoyed  the  full  six  hours  of  previous  sleep, 
were  not  likely  to  be  overcome  by  deep  and  fast  slumber 
on  their  post,  before  one  single  hour  had  elapsed.  The 
watch  had  probably  been  newly  set. 

The  very  novelty  of  the  situation  must  have  kept  their 
attention  keenly  tilive;  they  were  guarding  not  only  against 
invasion  from  without;  but  against  apprehended  trouble 
from  the  tenant  of  the  sepulchre;  who  it  was  feared,  might 
undertake  to  burst  the  bonds  of  death  and  the  grave,  and 
escape  to  life  again.  Nor  must  it  be  forgotten  that  this 
was  the  most  eventful  and  important  night  of  the  whole 
tragedy.  The  members  of  the  Sanhedriu  had  been  unable 
to  close  their  eyes  in  sleep  during  the  night  of  the  arrest, 
and  thousands  besides  them.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  quite 
a  stream  of  visitors  and  observers  had  set  towards  the 
tomb,  during  the  whole  bright  night  of  the  third  day,  im- 


CALVARY   AND  ITS  VICTIM.  415 

pelled  by  no  other  interest  than  mere  curiosity.    No  other 
subject  held  the  attention  of  the  people. 

A  fact,  which  merits  consideration  in  this  connection,  is, 
that  when  the  rulers  had  the  apostles  in  their  power,  after 
their  arrest  for  the  healino-  of  the  cripple  at  the  gate  of 
the  temple,  and  brought  forward  their  complaint  against 
them;  they  did  not  charge  them  with  the  theft  of  the  body, 
which  should  have  been  their  gravest  accusation.  Indeed 
the}^  might  easily  have  made  it  a  capital  offense;  as  it  in- 
volved the  breaking  of  the  state  seal,  and  the  plunder  of 
the  state  property,  in  the  promotion  of  a  fraud,  intended 
to  consign  the  rulers  themselves  to  eternal  infamy. 

The  words  of  this  complaint  are:  "Ye  have  filled  Jerusa- 
lem with  your  doctrine"  that  Jesus  has  arisen  from  the 
dead,  "and  intend  to  bring  this  man's  blood  upon  us"  as 
having  unjustly  executed  him:  the  demonstration  of  this 
injustice  being  found  in  his  resurrection  and  return  to  life. 

Dr.  Dwight  believed,  that  in  these  words  is  contained  an 
unconscious  confession  of  the  resurrection  of  the  Savior. 
Instead  of  charging  home  upon  the  apostles  the  crime  of 
which,  according  to  them,  these  men  must  have  known 
themselves  guilty,  and  the  deception  which  at  that  very 
instant  they  were  practicing ;  they  are  irritated  by  the  dan- 
ger impending  over  themselves  of  being  found  guilty  in 
their  own  persons.  A  guilt}^  conscience  seems  to  speak  in 
their  words.  And  this  is  a  confession  of  the  i-eality  of  the 
resurrection.  It  is  impossible  to  suppose  that  they  would 
have  neglected  the  opportunity  of  condemning  the  apostles, 
and  capitally,  too,  had  there  been  truth  in  their  own  decla- 
rations. Could  cause  have  been  found,  they  would  have 
enforced  judgment  to  the  bitter  end,  for  their  own  vindi- 
cation. 

The  proverbial  stubbornness  of  the  Jewish  character  was 
well  illustrated  in  the  subsequent  conduct  of  these  rulers. 
Their  version  of  the  affair  was  not  only  put  in  circulation 
at  the  very  earliest  period,  and  by  the  soldiers  themselves ; 
that  the  falsehood  might  seem  to  have  the  priority,  and 
might  nip  in  the  bud  any  disturbance  in  Jewish  communi- 
ties throughout  the  world ;  but  we  learn  incidentally  from 
other  sources,  that  letters  were  dispatched  from  Jerusalem 


416  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

to  every  s^'iiagogue  in  the  then  known  world,  reciting  all 
the  particulars  with  their  own  false  explanation.  When 
INIatthew  wrote  his  gospel  some  years  later,  this  report  was 
current  wherever  Jews  were  found;  that  the  disciples  stole 
the  body  of  their  Lord  while  the  soldiers  on  guard  slept. 
It  is  no  new  thing,  that  falsehood  enjoys  rapidity  of  dis- 
semination for  outdistancing  the  most  important  and  pre- 
cious truth.  The  operators  in  the  cause  of  the  evil  and  the 
false  seem  also  to  be  more  industrious  and  ubiquitous  than 
the  most  zealous  apostles  of  the  truth. 

Peter  introduces  another  argument  for  the  resurrection 
of  his  master  in  his  discourse  on  the  day  of  Pentecost.  It 
is  taken  from  the  continuance  right  along  of  the  miracu- 
lous works,  as  though  he  was  still  present.  The  sending 
by  him  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  tongues  of  fire,  and  the 
restoration  of  the  poor  cripple,  w^holayatthe  gate  beauti- 
ful, just  such  a  subject  as  Jesus  w^as  w^ont  to  select,  poor, 
despised  and  needy  beyond  the  power  of  man  to  relieve, 
were  instances.  Indeed  all  the  mighty  works,  the  healing 
of  the  sick  and  the  raising  of  the  dead,  continued  without 
interruption.  Jesus  unseen  w^as  present  still,  as  apj)ears 
from  Peter's  own  words  to  Eneas:  "Eneas,  Jesus  Christ 
maketh  thee  whole."  These  things  demonstrated  his  resur- 
rection, and  his  session  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father, 
and  the  presence  of  his  own  beneficent  agency  with  the 
church  according  to  his  promise. 

Jesus  has  rolled  away  the  stone  from  the  sepulchre  effect- 
ually and  forever,  and  "brought  life  and  immortality  to 
light,"  demonstrating  it  in  his  own  person. 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  417 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


THE  RESURRECTION  OF  JESUS. 


The  Witnesses. 

And  showed  him  openly,  not  to  all  the  people:  but  to  witnesses 
chosen  before  of  God.    Acts  x:  40. 

That  the  risen  Savior  should  be  exhibited  before  a  limited 
number  of  witnesses,  is  in  harmony  with  his  own  method 
in  all  his  might}'  works.  They  were  all  performed  in  the 
absence  of  the  ero^vd.  Two  or  three  witnesses  are  the  stipu- 
lated number,  sufficient  to  establish  any  fact  by  testimony-. 
Our  Lord  suffered  more  spectators  when  it  was  unavoid- 
able; but  evidently  preferred  the  presence  of  fewer.  The 
apostles  from  long-continued  association  were  competent 
judges  of  his  identity:  having  enjoyed  the  opportunitj- 
of  beholding  him  in  every  attitude.  No  brother  could 
more  certainly  identify  a  brother,  than  these  could  their 
beloved  master.  It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  the 
celestial  dignity  of  the  son  of  God  would  allow  him  to 
show  himself  before  those,  whose  accusations  he  would  not 
answer  by  the  slightest  notice,  and  who  blinded  their  own 
ejes  against  the  most  patent  truth.  The  certainty  of  his 
resurrection  was  admitted  by  his  friends  only  after  the 
most  cautious  and  hesitating  examination.  Let  the  wit- 
nesses be  heard. 

The  first  was  Mary  Magdalene,  of  whom  we  know  only 
what  a  hasty  glimpse  of  her  conduct  on  this  occasion  re- 
veals. Bj  some  she  is  supposed  to  be  the  penitent  woman, 
whom  Jesus  forgave  in  the  house  of  Simon  at  Nain;  be- 
cause her  name  first  enters  into  the  history  just  at  that 
point.  Renan  sneers  at  the  tale  of  the  resurrection,  as  be- 
ing a  conceit  originating  in  the  excited  imagination  of  an 
impressible  woman,  in  the  tumult  of  her  sorrow;  when  she 
had  lost  the  last  trace  of  the  master,  whom  she  adored. 


418  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

According  to  him,  she  was  the  author  of  the  idea,  which 
the  disciples  hastened  to  adopt;  and  make  the  basis  of  the 
fraud,  which  they  imposed  upon  the  world.  Their  success 
in  such  a  fraud  would  be  a  greater  miracle  than  the  resur- 
rection of  their  master. 

But  it  is  quite  evident,  that  imagination  had  nothing  to 
do  with  the  appearance  of  her  lost  master;  for  she  was  not 
prepared  for  the  scene  which  ensued.  She  had  no  anticipa- 
tion of  a  resurrection;  having  come  with  others  to  com- 
plete the  burial  arrangements  by  swathing  hrst  the  limbs 
separately,  and  afterwards  the  whole  body  in  linen  cloths 
filled  with  spices.  None  of  the  ordinaiy  attentions  of  a 
decent  interment  had  been  shown;  none  of  the  loud  and 
piteous  wailings  had  been  indulged ;  no  heart-breaking 
adieux  had  been  allowed.  Her  woman's  heart  demanded  the 
tenderest  care  of  the  dead ;  and  that  nothing  should  be 
omitted  which  could  gratify  this  sympathy  and  love;  that 
their  leave-taking  might  be  enjoyed  in  all  the  luxury  of 
grief,  for  which  Orientals  are  noted. 

She  was  looking  for  no  miracle:  no  excited  fancy  was 
preparing  her  for  some  amazing  sequel.  She  had  come  on 
a  plain  matter-of-fact  errand ;  and  was  as  cool  and  collected, 
as  when  about  the  common  businesses  of  life.  Her  cool- 
ness was  surprising:  and  showed  itself  when,  stooping,  [she 
looked  into  the  sepulchre,  and  saw  two  angels  in  white, 
sitting  one  at  the  head,  and  the  other  at  the  feet,  where- 
the  body  of  Jesus  had  lain,  and  answered  their  question: 
"Woman,  why  weepest  thou?"  She  seems  to  have  been 
neither  agitated  .ior  alarmed  at  the  vision;  but  responded 
as  she  would  have  done  to  mortals.  Her  conduct  contrasts 
well  with  that  of  the  other  women  narrated  in  Mark  16 :  8, 
who  fled  with  trembHng  and  astonishment,  when  addressed 
by  the  angels.  Men  the  most  fearless  could  not  have  shown 
better  self-possession. 

A  better  witness  could  not  have  been  selected  for  this,  the 
grandest  of  all  occasions.  Startled  she  may  have  been  for 
a  moment;  but  not  disturbed,  nor  thrown  off  her  balance. 
Neither  was  she  alarmed,  at  the  sound  of  a  man's  footsteps 
approaching  down  the  path  behind  her;  but  partially  turned, 
and   said   to   the  supposed    gardener:   "Sir,  if   thou  hast 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VI'JTJM.  419 

borne  him  hence,  tell  me  where  thou  hast  laid  him,  and   I 
will  take  him  away.'' 

She  thought  that  her  beloved  Lord  had  been  refused  even 
a  tomb.  Through  her  distress  she  had  not  recognized  him; 
until  the  well  known  voice  pronounced  her  name  in  a  tone 
of  surprise.  She  looked  more  closely  and  saw  that  it  was 
Jesus.  "M3'  Master,''  she  exclaimed,  and  would  have  seized 
him  in  her  arms;  had  he  not  forbidden.  '"Touch  me  not," 
he  said;  "for  1  do  not  yet  ascend  to  my  father."  The  per- 
fect tense  is  here  used  for  the  present.  "But  go  and  tell 
my  brethren,  that  (after  several  days)  I  ascend  to  my 
father  and  your  father,  to  my  God  and  your  God."  A  few 
minutes  later,  the  other  women  were  permitted  to  touch 
him.  He  had  objected  only  to  being  clasped  in  the  arms 
of  Mary. 

He  may  have  allowed  during  his  life  the  closest  familiarity; 
after  his  resurrection  he  was  more  reserved;  a  line  of  be- 
havior which  their  own  awe  rendered  easy,  and  sanctioned 
as  wise.  The  other  women  enjoyed  directly  the  privilege 
of  handling  his  feet,  and  became  witnesses,  that  he  was 
risen  from  the  dead.  The  apostles  seem  not  to  have  re- 
ceived their  testimony  with  perfect  credence,  on  account  of 
the  known  susceptibility  of  the  sex;  but  the  keen-eyed  ob- 
servation, loving  recognition  and  unhesitating,  worship, 
showed  that  to  them  there  was  no  doubt. 

And  perhaps  in  the  w'hole  apostolic  college  none  could  be 
found  more  reliable,  more  safe  from  imposition,  and  more 
capable  than  Mary  Magdalene.  She  enjoys  a  distinction 
which  the  mother  of  Jesus  might  envy;  but  which  was  re- 
fused to  her  for  wise  reasons.  The  Magdalene's  love  was 
as  pure  and  as  strong  as  earth  afforded;  and  justified  her 
selection. 

The  next  witnesses  in  coxirse  are  the  two  who  went  to 
Emmaus  on  that  remarkable  first  day,  the  name  of  one 
of  whom  has  been  preserved,  Cleopas.  That  they  were  over- 
whelmed by  some  sudden  blow,  a  stranger  might  easily 
discover.  As  thej'  languidly  walked  in  close  and  absorbing 
conversation,  a  traveler  overtook  them,  rallied  them  on 
their  sadness,  and  inquired  its  cause.  His  visible  sympathy 
divested  them  of  all  reserve;  and  they  revealed  to  him  the 
hopes,  which  they  had  entertained  from  the  mission  of  the 


420  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

Nazarene,  and  the  crushing  disappointment  under  which  all 
his  followers  were  sunk  in  consequence  of  his  death. 

Nevertheless  they  by  no  means  re^'arded  him  as  an  im- 
postor; they  still  looked  upon  him  as  "a  prophet  miohty 
in  word  and  deed  before  God  and  all  the  people."  Heaven's 
approval  of  him  was  undeniable.  His  death  had  been  at- 
tended by  so  astonishino-  prodigies,  that  nothing  else  was 
talked  of  among  the  millions  of  sojourners  in  the  city, 
until  not  one  could  be  found  ignorant.  Moreover  a  rumor 
was  coming  into  circulation  when  they  left  the  city,  that 
he  had  returned  to  life;  it  was  based  however  only  on  the 
report  of  certain  women.  One  thing  was  true  nevertheless: 
the  tomb  was  empty,  and  the  body  was  gone;  and  they 
were  anxiously  awaiting  developments.  Had  they  indeed 
believed  that  he  was  risen;  they  would  not  have  been  found 
upon  the  road ;  however  pressing  their  business,  but  in  the 
posture  of  devout  expectation  near  the  tomb. 

After  they  had  fully  unbosomed  themselves,  the  stranger 
took  up  the  discourse;  and  upbraiding  them  for  their  not 
believing  the  prophets,  he  showed  them  from  the  scriptures 
that  it  behooved  the  Christ  to  suffer  these  things,  from 
which  an  excess  of  glory  would  follow.  He  reminded  them 
that  the  Christ  was  the  lamb  of  God,  without  spot  of  sin, 
laying  down  his  life  for  the  sin  of  others;  that  the  lamb 
was  a  diminutive  type.  When  Isaac  was  bound  upon  the 
altar,  a  better  picture  of  the  great  offering  on  Calvary  was 
presented.  God's  Issac,  the  son  of  his  delight,  would  be 
the  victim;  and  what  Abraham  iuWy  intended  to  do,  but 
was  spared  from  .jccomplishing,  (iod  himself  would  do: 
"slay  his  son.''  Jesus  had  died  at  the  hand  of  the  Father. 
Having  begun  at  Moses,  he  expounded  to  them  in  course 
the  scriptui'es  of  the  prophets,  affirming  the  necessity  of 
the  death  of  the  Son  of  God's  delight  for  the  sin  of  the 
world.  The  predictions  of  his  victory  over  death  and  the 
grave  were  recited  and  explained.  The  hearts  of  his  two 
hearers  burned  within  them  with  joy  and  wonder  as  they 
listened,  as  the  hearts  of  Christians  always  will  at  the  men- 
tion of  these  precious  truths. 

Arrived  at  Emmaus,  they  compelled  him  to  go  in  and 
tarry  with  them,  eager  for  a  continuance  of  the  exciting 


(•ALVAKY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  421 

discourse.  When  the  table  was  spread,  he  took  his  seat  at 
its  head,  as  had  been  his  wont;  and  taking-  the  bread  in 
his  hands,  as  his  manner  had  been,  with  upHfted  eyes  he 
blessed  it,  and  gave  to  them,  and  they  knew  him;  his 
characteristic  procedure  not  being  so  much  a  giving  of 
thanks,  as  the  pronouncing  of  his  blessing,  who  has  the 
powder  to  bless.  Their  eyes  had  been  so  liolden  bj-  the 
brimming  tears  that  they  had  not  recognized  him;  neither 
had  the^^  closely  observed  him :  not  having  the  slightest 
suspicion  of  his  identity.  A  soldier,  wounded  by  a  ball 
through  the  foot,  is  fortunate  if  in  six  months  he  can  bear 
his  weight  upon  it ;  and  how  could  they  suspect  their  Lord ; 
when  his  feet  had  been  pierced  and  inflamed  by  hours  of 
torture?  The  faintest  shadow  of  such  a  suspicion  never 
entered  their  thoughts;  though  none  but  Jesus  could  cast 
such  new  and  unexpected  light  upon  the  holy  word.  Each 
text  became  a  luminous  star  under  his  comment,  with 
healing  in  its  beams  for  their  wounded  spirits. 

Snatching  a  hasty  meal,  they  returned  at  once  to  the 
city,  bearers  of  good  tidings ;  and  found  the  eleven  gathered 
together  and  them  that  consorted  with  them,  saying; 
"the  Lord  is  risen  indeed,  and  hath  appeared  unto  "Simon." 
And  they  told  the  things  that  were  done  in  the  way ;  and 
how  he  was  known  of  them  in  breaking  of  bread.  And  as 
they  thus  spoke,  Jesus  himself  stood  in  their  midst,  and 
said:  "Peace  be  unto  you."  The  sudden  appearance  of  a 
form  with  the  voice  in  their  midst,  made  them  all  retreat 
to  the  walls  of  the  room,  with  the  utmost  terror  in 
their  faces.  But  he  required  them  to  handle  him,  and  be 
convinced  that  he  was  flesh  and  bones,  and  not  a  spirit: 
he  even  ate  before  them  in  proof  of  his  material  existence. 

The  •two  disciples  of  whom  we  are  speaking,  w'ere  good 
witnesses;  and  the  vision  was  not  the  product  of  imag- 
ination. And  the  method  pursued  bespoke  the  Lord 
himself.  He  first  made  them  understand  the  sense  of  the 
]3rophets,  and  what  the  Scriptures  required;  and  how  ex- 
acts all  its  predictions  had  been  fulfilled :  and  after  they 
had  gained  an  insight  into  the  necessity  of  his  death  and 
resurrection ;  he  revealed  himself  and  vanished  out  of  their 
sight;  leaving  them  in  an  ecstasy  of  wonder,  and  throbbing 


422  THE  GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

with  the  disco veiy  of  a  new  heaven  of  triitli.  The  changed 
manner  of  the  men  was  as  strong  evidence  as  their  words: 
their  sadness  was  gone;  and  a  joy  unspeakable  and  full 
of  glorj,  shone  in  their  countenances. 

It  was  necessar\^  that  this  further  appearance  to  the 
elev^en  should  occur  on  that  notable  first  day;  in  order  to 
disabuse  their  minds  effectually  of  all  supposition,  that 
what  had  been  seen,  was  a  mere  phantasm,  an  illusive 
likeness  of  their  master.  That  the  form  should  become 
visible  at  will,  and  vanish  utterly  out  of  sight  in  a  moment, 
might  naturally  suggest  such  a  theory.  But  they  were 
made  to  know  that  their  Lord  in  flesh  and  bone  was 
present;  and  that  the  very  body  deposited  in  the  tomb, 
etherialized  indeed  in  a  degree  by  death,  but  still  in  all 
its  accidents  the  same,  had  arisen. 

The  next  witness  in  course  of  time  was  Peter.  We  have 
no  particulars  of  the  interview :  consummate  delicacy  is 
exhibited  in  throwing  a  veil  over  all  that  passed  between 
the  recreant  apostle,  and  the  Lord,  Avhom  he  had  denied. 
The  fact  that  he  appeared  to  him  in  some  solitary  place 
whither  he  had  retired  to  weep,  is  proof  in  itself.  It  had 
been  human  to  leave  him  to  the  last  to  be  favored  with 
an  interview,  or  to  have  passed  him  by  altogether.  But 
Jesus  came  to  comfort  those  who  mourn,  to  heal  the  broken 
hearted,  to  nurse  the  broken  reed  and  the  smoking  Hax; 
and  he  hasted  to  save  him  from  utter  despair  by  assur- 
ance of  free  forgiveness.  It  is  not  necessary  to  know  par- 
ticulars of  the  meeting:  the  fact  that  it  occurred  proves 
that  it  was  Jesus-. himself. 

Peter  was  not  the  man  to  be  reticent;  but  was  so  full 
of  demonstration;  that  none  could  doubt,  that  he  had 
actually  seen  the  Lord ;  and  that  a  mountain  burden  had 
been  lifted  from  his  heart.  To  know  that  though  ashamed 
of  Jesus,  Jesus  was  not  ashamed  of  him,  made  him  wild 
with  delight,  though  more  tearful  than  ever.  He  had  the 
confidence  of  the  group,  as  a  man  of  the  most  transparent 
sincerity,  and  at  the  farthest  remove  from  deceit  and 
fraud.  His  bold  and  fearless  character,  and  outspoken 
earnestness,  and  devotion  to  the  master,  for  whom  lie  had 
given    up   all,  gave   his    word    weight:  especially  when  en- 


CALVARY   AND   ITS   VICTIM.  423 

forced  b}^  the  new  jo}'-  and  life   infused  into  his  spirit  by 
the  interview  with  the  forgiving'  Christ. 

Yet  was  there  one  of  the  companj^  unconvinced  by  the 
Avord  of  Peter ;  thou<i-h  with  the  most  impassioned  energy, 
he  recounted  what  he  had  seen  and  heard:  and  wdth 
mingled  tears  of  self-condemnation  and  joy  most  solemnh' 
attested  the  truth.  The  story  of  Cleopas  and  his  com- 
panion had  no  effect  upon  him,  though  enforced  by  the  new 
light  cast  upon  the  scriptures  by  the  interpretation  of  the 
master  himself.  The  accounts  of  the  women  were  to  him 
as  idle  tales  having  their  origin  in  their  extravagant  im- 
agination. He  would  not  believe  his  own  eyes  and  ears. 
In  some  cases  the  senses  were  not  reliable:  the  eye  itself 
might  be  the  parent  of  deception.  This  was  Thomas  the 
doubter,  who  always  looked  upon  the  dark  side,  and  ever 
anticipated  the  worst. 

After  having  listened  at  length  to  all  that  could  be  said  by 
every  one  that  had  been  privileged  to  see  the  risen  one ;  he 
took  his  deliberate  stand ;  that  with  him  seeing  was  not 
believing.  He  required  not  only  to  see  the  Lord;  he  must 
not  only  see  the  wounds;  he  must  explore  them  with  his 
finger;  he  must  thrust  his  hand  into  the  spear  gash  in 
his  side.  His  scepticism  had  made  him  slack  about  con- 
sorting with  his  fellow-disciples  for  fear  of  deception- 
Unless  he  could  find  actual  flesh  and  bone,  and  touch  the 
death  marks  of  Calvary,  he  would  not  believe.  He  was 
evidently  well  posted  about  the  gullibility  of  mortals;  and 
knew  to  what  a  great  extent  the  imagination  can  impose 
upon  the  credulous.  Religion  with  him  was  not  a  matter 
of  sentiment  merely. 

Like  a  business  man  called  upon  to  venture  his  all  upon 
some  scheme,  he  would  sift  every  statement,  question  every 
step,  and  advance  only  as  he  found  solid  footing.  It  was 
with  him  a  question  of  eternal  interest;  not  for  himself 
alone  but  for  generations  to  follow.  He  would  assent  only 
as  compelled  by  the  most  unequivocal  certainty.  Instead 
of  accepting  the  testimony  of  others  in  so  vital  a  matter, 
he  demanded  the  fullest  satisfaction  of  all  his  senses. 
More  it    was    impossible  to  ask,  except  to  insist  upon  a 


424  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

lai'ger  number  of  witnesses.  There  was  certainly'-  among 
the  disciples  one,  as  cautious  and  reluctant  as  the  most 
exacting  of  cavilers  could  be. 

On  the  next  first  daj'  all  were  assembled  with  the  doors 
shut  and  locked  for  fear  of  the  Jews;  and  suddenly  Jesus 
was  in  their  midst  with  his  usual  salutation:  "Peace  be 
unto  3'ou."  Turning  to  Thomas,  he  repeated  his  very 
words;  and  submitted  himself  to  the  very  examination  de- 
manded by  him.  Convinced  by  this  testimony  of  the  three 
concurrent  senses,  sight,  hearing,  and  touch,  the  unbelief 
of  Thomas  was  swept  awa}^,  like  the  mists  of  the  morning 
before  the  rising  sun.  Probably  upon  his  bended  knees,  he 
exclaimed:  "my  Lord  and  my  God."  His  doubts  were  laid 
in  the  empty  sepulchre  to  know  no  resurrection.  He  was  one 
of  the  witnesses  "chosen  of  God,"  and  wisely  on  account  of 
his  cold,  practical  nature. 

Unbelief  had  its  attorney  in  the  ver^'  household  of  Christ ; 
and  could  not  demand  ampler  satisfaction,  than  it  found 
at  the  very  threshold  of  the  new  institution.  Everything 
connected  with  Jesus  can  bear  the  keenest  sunlight  of 
scrutiny;  and  appears  to  the  greatest  advantage,  when 
submitted  to  the  most  trying  tests.  Thomas,  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  large  class  of  honest  doubters,  is  convinced 
upon  his  own  terms,  and  gives  his  life  in  defense  of  the 
truth,  at  which  he  so  long  hesitated. 

The  next  witnesses  in  succession  are  the  five  hundred  and 
more,  who  saw  him  on  the  appointed  mountain  in  Galilee, 
including  the  apostles.  When  he  was  seen  "some  doubted.  " 
Probably  their  dcibts  were  removed,  when  he  came  and 
spake  unto  them.  Illusions,  arising  from  morbid  condi- 
tions, are  confined  to  single  individuals:  and  but  a  single 
sense  is  disordered.  They  are  not  found  affecting  a  large 
group  of  people,  and  showing  a  derangement  of  sight  and 
hearing  both  together.  He  came  and  spake  to  them,  say- 
ing: "All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth."' 
This  power  was  vested  in  him,  when  he  first  offered  himself 
as  mediator,  but  was  henceforth  to  be  more  actively  exer- 
cised for  the  promotion  of  his  kingdom. 

Then  followed  the  great  commission  to  "go  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,"  with  the 


CALVARY  AND  ITS   VICTIM.  425 

promise:  "Lo  I  am  with  3'ou  always  even  to  the  end  of  the 
world."  The  97th  Psalm  is  Messianic,  and  reads:  "Jesus 
reigns,  let  the  earth  rejoice." 

This  commission  terminated  the  peculiar  privileges  of  the 
Jewish  people:  and  opened  the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  the 
Gentiles.  He  spake  with  a  supreme  authority,  and  with  a 
love,  which  made  no  exception  against  the  Jews ;  but  re- 
quired his  followers  to  begin  at  Jerusalem,  with  the  offer 
of  salvation  to  his  most  stubborn  enemies,  every  one  of 
them.  AVho  could  doubt  that  Jesus  was  the  speaker,  when 
the  loving  anxieties  of  his  inmost  heart  thus  spoke  out? 
These  men  carried  the  gospel  to  the  ends  of  the  earth ;  and 
the  dagon  of  idolatj'  fell  before  them:  its  hold  had  been 
long  loosening. 

Gibbon's  reasons  for  the  rapid  spread  of  Christianity  are 
well  selected,  though  stated  with  many  a  covert  sneer  at 
the  truth. 

I.  The  inflexible  and  intolerant  zeal  of  the  early  Chris- 
tians, possessing  all  the  Jewish  stubbornness,  connected 
with  the  assurance  of  the  most  positive  conviction. 

II.  The  doctrine  of  a  future  life,  improved  by  all  that 
could  give  weight  and  efficacy  to  the  representations  of 
eternal  misery,  etc. 

Whence  did  these  Christians  obtain  their  positive  and  cer- 
tain knowledge  of  a  future  life?  this  intolerant  zeal  against 
idolatry?  this  fixed  and  immovable  conviction  of  the  re- 
wards and  punishments  of  the  unseen  world?  which  they 
described  with  the  realism  which  might  belong  to  messen- 
gers returned  from  the  spirit  land?  All  this  assurance  of 
conviction,  this  intolerant  zeal  which  would  die  sooner  than 
abjure,  this  energy  of  propagandism,  resulted  from  the  un- 
impeachable certainty  of  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ. 
The  arguments  of  the  philosophers  expressed  the  desire  of 
inmiortality,  rather  than  the  assurance  of  it:  the  return  of 
Jesus  from  the  dead  was  a  demonstration  of  it.  In  com- 
parison with  the  retributions  of  the  future,  all  earthly  in- 
terests become  insignificant. 

The  last  testimony  cited  is  that  of  the  early  church,  ex- 
pressed in  the  Apostles'  Creed.  In  it  the  primitive  church 
utters  its  convictions  of  the  truth  as  originally    received 


426  THE    GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

from  the  apostles.  The  last  clause  of  this  creed  reads:  "I 
believe  in  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  and  the  hfe  ever- 
lastino'."  Whence  did  the  church  obtain  this  article  of 
faith?  Heathen  writings  are  full  of  disquisitions  upon  a 
future  state;  philosophers  uttered  volumes  about  it;  but 
the  idea  of  the  resurrection  of  the  body  never  entered  the 
mind  of  the  boldest  speculator  of  them  all.  There  is  nothing 
in  experience  or  analogy  to  suggest  it;  it  is  contrary  to 
both  reason  and  experience.  The  thought  of  its  possibility 
was  never  born;  no  reasonings  could  ever  inspire  the 
slightest  anticipation  of  it.  He  who  dreamed  it  would  have 
been  accounted  a  madman.  The  simple  announcement  of  it 
by  Paul  set  the  Athenian  Areopagus  wild  with  derision. 
Haughty  reason  would  even  now  pronounce  it  contrary-  to 
its  first  principles. 

Whence  has  the  Christian  world  obtained  its  belief  in  the 
resurrection  of  the  body?  and  that  the  same,  which  was 
sown  in  God's  garden,  will  reappear  in  the  harvest  of  the 
future?  It  is  evidently  a  matter  of  pure  revelation,  undis- 
coverable  by  human  genius. 

This  revelation  was  made  when,  on  the  third  da\'  after 
the  burial  of  Jesus,  a  mighty  angel  descended  like  a  flam- 
ing meteor  to  the  tomb  of  Joseph,  about  which  God  had 
his  guards,  as  well  as  the  Jewish  rulers.  Jerusalem  was 
shaken  with  a  "very  great  earthquake,"  as  his  feet  touched 
the  ground.  For  fear  of  him,  the  keepers  did  shake,  and 
became  as  dead  men.  A  man  paralyzed  with  fear  does  not 
fall  to  the  ground ;  but  stands  rigid  as  a  statue,  incapable 
of  motion,  or  cr5%  and  almost  of  breath.  A  wave  of  the 
angel's  hand  beckoned  the  stone  away;  on  w^hich  he  sat, 
with  eyes  flaming  with  such  indignation  as  heaven  felt  at 
the  murder  of  Calvary.  His  robes  were  of  such  white  as  earth 
"could  not  soil.  As  he  faced  the  guard,  every  eye  was  riveted 
on  HIM.  Had  the  ground  yawned  behind  them,  they  would 
not  have  known  it.  They  saw  only  the  eyes  of  fire.  This 
angel  was  only  the  porter;  his  office  was  simply  to  open 
the  door:  not  to  resuscitate  the  dead.  One  lay  in  that 
tomb,  wliom  it  was  impossible  that  death  should  hold.    It 


CALVARY  AND  ITS   VICTIM.  427 

is  ail  inexplicable  wonder  that  he  died,  the  lord  oi  life.  He 
laid  down  his  life,  and  he  took  it  again;  he  had  the 
power. 

He  arose  as  leisurely  as  men  arise  from  the  couch  of 
sleep,  unrolled  the  bandages  that  wrapped  his  frame;  took 
off  the  towel  that  bound  his  chin;  folded  it  and  laid  it 
by  itself  apart;  left  the  impress  of  his  body  upon  the  bed 
of  spices,  on  which  it  had  been  deposited;  and  the  ooze 
of  his  wounds  upon  the  cloth  that  had  enwrapped  him. 
Without  deranging  the  couch  of  his  repose,  and  with- 
out haste  he  was  gone;  and  no  eye  had  seen  him.  The 
lightnings  that  burned  in  the  sockets  of  those  spirit  eyes, 
were  too  threatening  to  allow  attention  to  the  sepulchre, 
or  a  look  towards  any  other  object.  The  guards  saw 
nothing  else.  The  great  forerunner  left  the  grave  a 
triumphant  victor;  he  broke  the  path,  which  all  his  people 
shall  tread.  He  left  evidences  of  another  life  stronger  than 
words.  When  all  was  over,  the  spirit  guard  faded  out  of 
view,  and  retiring  into  the  sepulchre,  showed  himself  to  the 
friends  of  Jesus  as  gentle  and  tender  as  he  had  been  terri- 
ble to  his  enemies 

This  was  revelation  or  rather  demonstration.  Let  reason 
pronounce  as  absurd  the  idea  of  the  regathering  of  the 
scattered  dust;  let  her  pile  up  difficulties  and  impossibil- 
ities; the  faith  of  mankind  will  never  waver,  Jesus  has 
arisen.  The  same  body  retaining  the  wounds  of  the  cross, 
and  the  gash  in  the  side,  only  etherealized,  came  back  to 
a  life  infinitely  above  the  earthly.  It  was  not  a  spiritual 
body  until  the  ascension.  This  was  the  great  sign,  on 
which  our  Lord  rested  his  reception;  it  was  the  climax  oi 
miracle.  Mighty  as  had  been  his  works,  they  were  subor- 
dinate and  inferior.  This  exhibited  "the  exceeding  greatness 
of  his  power;"  by  it  he  was  "declared  to  be  the  son  of  God 
with  power.'" 

A  doctrine  is  connected  with  it.  If  he  died  for  sin,  men  are 
sinners;  if  he  rose  from  the  dead  men  shall  rise;  if  his  body 
was  changed,  and  he  ascended  ;  his  people  shall  follow.  Cor- 
ruption shall  be  changed  into  incorruptiou;  weakness,  dis- 
honor and  shame  into  glory.  As  certainly  as  he  was  with 
us  in  his  humiliation  and  sorrows,  shall  his  people  be  with 


428  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

liim  ill  victory  over  death  and  the  g:rave,  and  in  eternal 
glory.  Dying  Christian,  do  terrors  surround  you?  Look 
up  like  Stephen,  Jesus  is  bending-  over  you  to  receive  your 
departing  spirit.  Church  of  the  living  God,  art  thou  in 
straits  and  reduced  to  despair?  Jesus  still  lives;  he  is  in 
every  storm  that  assails  you;  and  though  the  waves  may 
threaten  to  engulf  your  bark,  not  a  hair  of  your  head  shall 
perish  without  his  permission. 


a 


CALVARY  AND  ITS   VICTIM.  429 


CHAPTER  XL. 


THE  TWELVE  APOSTLES, 


As  our  Lord  was  to  be  removed  from  the  world  before  a 
church  was  organized,  or  a  rehable  record  of  his  teachings 
was  made,  in  order  that  credible  testimony  to  his  acts  and 
doctrines  might  remain,  he  associated  with  himself  the 
twelve.  He  would  not  leave  the  perpetuation  of  his  history 
to  tradition,  or  the  reports  of  unauthorized  witnesses,  of 
whom  many,  as  we  learn  from  Luke,  volunteered  their 
reminiscences.  His  words  were  to  work  as  leaven;  were  to 
germinate  as  seeds  in  the  soil ;  and  therefore  must  be  re- 
ported verbatim.  To  these  twelve  was  thus  committed  the 
greatest  trust  ever  confided  to  mortals.  The  world  of  the 
future  was  to  see  through  their  eyes,  to  hear  through  their 
ears,  and  to  understand  through  their  report.  To  be  fitted 
for  this  responsibility,  they  were  necessarily  to  be  closely 
identified  with  the  great  master,  to  be  in  perfect  sympath}^ 
with  his  mission,  and  divinely  accredited  as  his  heralds  to 
the  ages.  The  continual  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit  was  promised, 
and  was  needful  to  render  their  memory  of  him  as  vivid 
as  the  impressions  of  present  objects  upon  their  senses ; 
and  so  to  purify  their  motives  that  they  should  not 
deviate  from  the  strictest  truth;  but  display  their  master 
in  all  respects  as  he  was,  as  he  acted,  and  as  he  taught. 
While  none  about  him  understood  the  far  reach  of  his 
arrangements,  our  Lord  Vv-as  acting  for  all  time  and  all 
humanity. 

After  an  all  night  of  pra^^er,  he  called  unto  him  those 
who  were  willing  to  be  known  as  his  disciples;  and  from 
them  he  selected  twelve,  "that  they  should  be  with  him; 
and  that  he  might  send  them  forth  to  preach."  They  were 
"unlearned  and  ignorant  men:"  the  learning  of  that  day 
bewildered    and    confused    rather    than    strengthened    the 


430  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

mind,  beiuo-  a  cultivation  of  taste  more  than  an  acquisi- 
tion of  knowledge.  They  were  not  men  of  station  and  in- 
fluence; but  from  the  lower  ranks  of  societ}'.  The  aim  of 
our  Lord  was  the  poor:  he  would  begin  at  the  bottom, 
and  build  upward.  His  chosen  twelve  came  from  the  mass; 
and  were  not  above  association  with  the  common  people. 
They  were  capable  and  honest  witnesses;  his  gospel  was 
to  owe  its  extension  not  to  learning  or  worldly  influence; 
but  to  the  simple  truth  honestly  proclaimed.  Most  of  them 
had  been  disciples  of  John;  they  may  not  have  been  converted 
men  at  the  time  of  their  selection;  but  they  were  willing 
to  forsake  all  in  order  to  follow  Jesus;  and  to  put  them- 
selves under  his  tuition,  to  be  used  by  him  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  his  mission,  which  they  continued  to  the  end 
to  believe  to  be  the  emancipation  of  the  nation  from  the 
Roman  yoke;  and  its  exaltation  to  the  high  position  as- 
signed to  the  church  of  the  future  by  the  prophets,  whose 
predictions  they  believed  to  be  on  the  eve  of  fulfillment. 
To  us  it  is  plain  that  no  error  was  committed  in  the  choice 
of  Judas,  who  finally  became  the  most  effective  witness  of 
all  to  the  divinity  of  his  master. 

Their  stated  attendance  was  required  from  the  beginning 
of  that  stage  of  the  miniHtry,  which  was  marked  b3^  the 
daily  occurrence  of  miracles.  They  had  been  chosen  for 
the  purpose  of  seeing  all  the  mighty  works,  and  hearing 
all  the  words  of  instruction.  They  were  present  also  at  all 
the  contests  with  the  various  classes  of  the  opposition; 
and  lived  more  in  the  short  period  of  their  training  than 
others  do  in  years.  Their  experience  was  crowded  with 
occurrences,  the  full  writing  of  which  would  burden  the 
world.  To  them  he  opened  himself  fully,  cultivating  the 
closest  familiarity,  admitting  them  to  his  most  private  life, 
and  discoursing  with  them  at  length  on  all  subjects  per- 
taining to  man's  duty  and  destiny. 

After  his  resurrection  he  did  not  talk  much  with  them; 
there  was  on  their  part  the  reserve  of  awe;  and  on  his 
part  that  of  elevation;  and  we  might  have  expected  a 
similar  reserve  on  his  part  throughout  his  ministry;  they 
were  so  slow  of  understanding,  so  dull  in  their  receptivity; 
so    (juestioning   in    their    unbelief;  that    to    tolerate    their 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  431 

companionship  must  have  been  to  him  a  continual  hard- 
ship. But  witli  the  utmost  gentleness  and  forbearance  he 
endured  them ;  exposed  himself  in  all  his  attitudes  to  their 
keenest  scrutiny;  listened  to  all  their  difficulties;  conde- 
scended to  all  their  weaknesses ;  and  never  withdrew  himself 
from  their  society-.  The  child-like  simplicit}'  of  his  charac- 
ter was  transparent  to  their  view.  They  saw  him  not  at  a 
distance,  but  close  at  hand,  amid  contradiction,  contempt 
and  persecution,  still  unfaltering,  loving  to  the  end.  They 
saw  him  when  he  was  "abhorred  of  the  nation,"  "despised 
and  rejected  of  men,''  "acquainted  with  grief,"  and  visited 
with  the  direst  vengeance,  which  earth  and  hell  could 
Avreak  upon  his  innocent  head;  and  the  sole  response  was 
"intercession  made  for  the  transgressors." 

They  had  companied  with  him  about  a  year  of  high  ex- 
perience, before  he  asked  their  conclusions  respecting  his 
personality,  "whom  do  men  say  that  I,  the  son  of  man, 
am?  and  whom  say  ye  that  I  am?"  They  had  been 
taught  of  God  to  discern  that  he  was  the  son  of  the  liv- 
ing God.  "Flesh  and  blood  had  not  revealed  it  to  them." 
An  inward  teaching  had  opened  to  them  an  interpretation 
of  the  mighty  works  as  indicating  a  power  not  derived 
but  inherent;  a  wisdom  transcending  inspiration;  and  a 
purity  unblemished  by  corruption.  A  mirror  may  receive 
the  discoloring  breath ;  but  cannot  be  tarnished  by  it :  the 
serpent  had  breathed  on  him ;  but  the  tarnish  of  sin  was 
not  on  him.  Even  Judas  concurred  in  this  judgment,  as 
his  dying  testimony  proved.  In  this  expression  of  belief 
they  were  most  heartily  sincere,  as  the  Savior's  commenda- 
tion determines. 

The  eleven  were  at  this  stage  converted  men  by  faith  in 
the  son  of  God ;  and  the  group  formed  a  most  loving  and 
happy  family.  He  called  them  his  "sheep,"  his  "friends,"  his 
"children,"  his  "little  children"  dearer  to  him  than  mother,  or 
sister,  or  brother.  Indeed  he  describes  his  affection  for 
them  as  greater  than  can  be  told;  "as  the  Father  loveth 
me,  even  so  love  I  you."  Thej'^  loved  him  better  than  all 
the  world,  were  willing  to  surrender  all  for  him,  to  go  to 
prison  and  death  with  him ;  and  did  in  fact  give  their  lives 
for  him.     Their  association    was    a  miniature   of    heaven. 


432  THE   GREAT   «ACRIFICE. 

The  atmosphere  about  him  was  love.  They  kissed  him  at 
partino;  and  returning',  were  permitted  even  to  embrace 
him,  and  take  all  the  liberties  of  the  most  endeared  friend- 
ship. Their  own  loving  consent  alone  retained  them  in  at- 
tendance. The  bond  that  united  them  was  confidence  in 
him  as  God's  righteous  servant  appointed  to  perform  a 
\York  impossible  to  all  others. 

Their  faith  received  all  possible  helps.  Proofs  of  his  ab- 
solute divinity  were  granted  to  them,  Mhicli  were  with- 
holdeu  from  others.  When  the  charge,  made  against  him 
by  the  Pharisees  of  complicity'  with  Satan,  was  taken  up 
by  the  people  generally,  and  urged  against  him ;  it  was  re- 
futed to  the  disciples  by  a  miracle  not  witnessed  by  the 
crowd.  As  they  sailed  across  the  sea  of  Galilee,  with  the 
master  sunken  into  a  depth  of  slumber  from  utter  ex- 
haustion, lying  upon  the  quarterdeck  upon  a  board  and 
pillow,  a  storm  of  wind  surprised  them  in  mid  passage.  It 
catne  upon  them  so  suddenly,  that  it  caught  them  with 
sails  spread  and  hatches  open.  The  repose  of  the  sleeper 
was  undisturbed  by  the  roar  of  the  tempest,  and  the 
rattling  of  the  cordage  in  taking  in  sail,  and  the  hurried 
exertions  to  lay  the  ship  to,  which  is  the  only  recourse  in 
such  perils.  It  proved  impossible  to  bring  its  nose  to  the 
wind;  and  it  lay  in  the  trough  of  the  sea,  the  waves 
breaking  over  it.  The  disciples  came  to  him,  and  aroused 
him  with  the  stab  of  a  question:  "Master,  carest  thou 
not  that  we  perish?"  by  being  driven  on  the  rocks. 

The  skies  could  sooner  fall  than  one  hair  of  their  head 
perish;  but  he  a/.^se  in  the  face  of  the  storm,  and  stood 
where  old  mariners  could  not  stand  without  clinging". 
The  elements  knew  him.  He  spoke  but  two  words :  "Peace, 
be  still,"  and  in  briefer  time  than  the  most  well-trained  and 
intelligent  animal  could  do  its  master's  bidding  the  wind 
held  its  breath;  and  the  sea  rested  from  its  fury,  and 
smoothed  itself  into  a  sea  of  glass,  as  it  were.  There 
was  a  great  calm.  The  disciples  knew  then  that  of 
a  truth  he  was  the  Son  of  God ;  let  the  enemies 
devise  what  slanders  they  would,  to  explain  the  mighty 
works.  Men  nowhere  feel  their  helpless  dependence  as 
they    do     when    tossed     upon    the    angry    floods.      It   is 


CALVARY  AND   ITS   VICTIM.  433 

God    alone   who    rules   the   ragino'   sea,    and  says   to  the 
proud  waves:     "Hitherto  and  no  farther." 

On  another  occasion,  he  came  upon  them  in  the  fourth 
watch  of  the  nig-ht,  as  they  were  toiling  in  rowing  against 
an  angry  sea;  and  showed  himself  an  absolute  master  of 
the  elements.  The  boisterous  sea  bore  him  up  as  a  solid 
floor;  and  the  contrary  wind  did  in  nowise  retard  his 
movement,  for  he  could  easily  have  passed  and  distanced 
them,  notwithstanding  their  most  vigorous  efforts.  The 
sight  of  him,  like  a  pursuing  spirit,  fearfully  alarmed  them; 
but  his  reassuring  voice  at  once  calmed  their  fears.  That 
his  walking-  upon  the  sea  was  not  effected  by  changing  the 
qualities  of  matter,  was  demonstrated  by  his  allowing 
Peter  to  perform  the  same  feat;  which  he  succeeded  in 
doing,  sojong  as  his  eye  was  fixed  upon  the  Lord  of  the 
sea.  But  when  his  fears  prevailed,  he  was  in  immediate 
danger  of  being  swallowed  by  the  opening  deep.  Our  Lord's 
object  evidently  was  to  afford  to  them  the  most  unques- 
tionable evidence  of  his  divinity  by  proofs  not  vouchsafed 
to  others. 

So,  when  cavilers  clamored  for  a  sign  from  heaven ;  such 
a  sign  was  granted  not  to  the  skeptics;  but  to  the  disci- 
ples, of  whom  the  favored  three  heard  the  testimony  of 
heaven  at  the  baptism  repeated,  got  a  glimpse*  of  the  holy 
company  of  the  redeemed,  and  heard  them  ascribe  thei"i- 
salvation  to  the  blood-shedding  on  Calvary.  The  sign 
which  the  incredulous  demanded,  was  granted  to  the 
disciples;  and  nothing  was  withheld,  which  could  conduce 
to  the  strengthening:  of  their  faith. 

Familiarity  with  him  in  the  intimacies  of  life  demon- 
strated to  them  from  day  to  day  his  knowledge  of  all 
things  present  and  future.  When  he  sent  Peter  to  the  sea 
for  a  shekel  in  the  mouth  of  the  first  fish;  when  he  sent 
two  of  them  for  the  colt  on  which  he  would  enter  Jerusa- 
lem ill  triumph;  and  two  to  procure  a  room  in  which  to 
make  ready  the  passover;  and  probably  in  all  his  arrano-e- 
ments;  he  was  affording  continual  proof  of  his  omniscien'^e 
So,  m  their  private  conversations,  they  had  no  need  to  ask 
him  a  question;  he  heard  the  beating  of  their  hearts-  and 
replied    with  the   most   startling-   directness  to   their 'very 


434  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

tliouo-hts.  Thus  coustautly  exercisiiift-  tlie  inalienable  pre- 
i-oo-atives  of  the  deity,  he  was  affording  them  every  con- 
firmation, which  the  most  exacting  ca viler  could  ask;  just 
as  he  afterwards  multiplied  to  tliem  proofs  of  his  resur- 
rection. Absolute  certainty  was  demanded  in  this  case;  and 
it  was  afforded :  the  last  year  of  his  ministry  was  especially 
devoted  to  this  object.  Even  the  hard,  unsympathizing 
Judas  was  more  than  convinced. 

Yet  their  appreciation  of  his  exalted  personality  was  very 
deficient.  Had  they  understood  it.  they  would  never  have 
been  in  panic  for  fear  of  going  to  the  bottom  of  the  lake 
of  (jalilee  with  him  on  board  the  vessel ;  they  would  never 
have  grudged  the  ointment  in  the  house  of  Bethany;  all 
the  powers  of  earth  combined  could  not  have  forced  them 
to  forsake  him  in  peril,  and  flee  and  deny  him ;  James  and 
John,  sons  of  Zebedee,  would  have  vied  with  the  ten  for 
the  honor  of  hanging,  one  on  his  right  hand  and  the  other 
on  his  left,  upon  Roman  crosses.  Evidences  more  than  sat- 
isfactory, were  continually  before  them ;  but  their  appre- 
hension of  them  was  very  fluctuating.  Their  faith  was  very 
weak.  They  misinterpreted  the  object  of  his  mission  with 
a  mistake,  which  nothing  but  the  result  could  correct. 
Divinity  was  not  expected  in  their  national  liberator  and 
hero;  nor  was  it  necessary  to  the  accomplishment  of  his 
work :  it  was  an  inexplicable  adjunct  in  the  real  Jesus, 
against  which  Jewish  preconceptions  ever  demurred.  His 
predictions  of  his  coming  death  w^ere  also  continually  un- 
dermining their  faith  in  his  divinity-;  so  that  their  minds 
must  have  been  on  the  balance  between  conflicting  opinions. 

This  dullness  and  lack  of  receptivity  is  very  apparent  in  the 
history  of  the  farewell  conversation  in  John  chs.  xiv,  xv,  xvi. 
When  our  Lord  spoke  of  going  away  and  leaving  them, 
he  was  met  by.  the  question:  "Lord  we  know  not  whither 
thou  goest;  and  how  can  we  know  the  way?"  showing* 
that  the  idea  of  his  going  away  by  death  had  not  found 
a  lodgment  in  their  minds.  What  gross  misconception  is 
shown  by  the  request  "Lord,  show  us  the  Father;  and  it 
sufflceth  us!"  Clearly  they  had  no  conception  of  spiritual 
discoveries,  and  of  a  spiritual  kingdom.  How  patiently  and 
lovingly  oui-  Tvord  explained ;    and    yet    they    went  out  of 


CALVARY   AND   ITS   VICTIM.  435 

that  upper  room  without  the  least  apprehension,  that  he 
was  going-  to  betrayal,  arrest,  and  death.  The  progress 
made  by  them  in  learning  Avas  astonishingly  small. 

Notwithstanding  prolonged  intimacy  with  the  most  power- 
ful and  transforming  character,  that  ever  moved  on  earth, 
they  were  far  from  imbibing  his  spirit:  they  were  still  in 
favor  of  violent  methods  of  procedure;  they  still  felt  the 
Jewish  exclusiveness,  leading  them  to  forbid  to  others  the 
privileges,  which  themselves  enjoyed;  they  were  to  the  last 
contending  for  the  highest  position.  They  also  sliowed  a 
great  lack  of  sympathy  with  him  at  his  arrest  and  trial : 
while  he  agonized,  they  slept;  when  he  was  taken  and 
bound,  they  fled. 

It  had  often  been  argued  among  them,  can  he  be  over- 
come, and  die;  and  yet  be  divine?  Can  his  enemies  pre- 
vail against  him,  and  drive  him  out  of  his  own  world; 
and  yet  he  be  Lord  of  all  things,  as  we  can  but  believe? 
It  was  an  axiom  self-evident  to  enemies  and  friends,  that 
being  God,  he  could  not  be  vulnerable  nor  mortal.  The 
ultimate  test,  by  which  the  decision  oi  the  nation  was 
rendered  against  him,  was  that  he  was  defeated  and  died 
by  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  This  settled  the  question  of 
his  divinity,  and  settled  it  against  him.  For  this  reason, 
all  that  he  had  said  upon  the  subject  of  his  own  death 
had  failed  to  make  any  impression  upon  the  memories  of 
his  disciples  more  than  rain  upon  the  solid  rock.  In  pro- 
portion as  their  appreciation  of  his  divinity  was  clear  and 
well-founded ;  in  that  proportion  was  their  confidence  in 
his  superiority  to  death,  which  as  the  fruit  of  sin  could 
have  no  connection  whatever  with  him. 

After  the  arrest  Peter  followed  to  see  the  end,  exxjecting 
an  issue  favorable  to  the  master;  and  this  confidence 
clung  to  them  after  he  was  condemned  and  nailed  to  the 
cross.  They  looked  for  deliverance;  and  no  deliverance 
came:  their  eyes  failed  with  longing;  and  no  help  appeared. 
When  he  died,  their  hopes  died  with  him,  and  were  buried 
in  his  tomb.  They  did  not  call  to  mind  how  often  and 
with  what  emphasis  the  prediction  of  this  very  ending 
had  been  made.  Though  none  remonstrated  after  the  fear- 
ful rebuke  administered  to  Peter  at  Cesarea  Phillppi;  yet 


43G  THK    GREAT   SACHIFK'E. 

tlioy  had  heard  these  ])iedictions  with  inward  demur;  and 
listened  only  to  the  siren  music  of  their  own  eaoer  hopes. 
Hence  the  crucifixion  of  their  Lord  seemed  to  dissipate 
their  confidence  entirely.  The  terrible  end  came  upon  them 
like  the  crack  of  doom.  The  Jewish  council,  like  a  wild 
beast  long  cheated  of  its  prey,  and  roused  into  an  ungov- 
ernable fury  by  the  goading  of  the  sharp  sword  of  his 
mouth,  were  in  a  white  heat  of  excitement  at  the  pros- 
pect of  destroying  their  enemy.  If  he  could  be  arrested, 
he  could  also  be  put  to  death:  and  the  onset  upon  him 
and  his  baud,  successful  in  its  first  assault,  gained  tenfold 
force  from  the  prospect  of  victory.  Human  passion  never 
ran  so  high :  the  human  will  was  never  clothed  with  such 
power  of  rebellion :  never  I'ose  with  so  desperate  determin- 
ation. A  frenzy  worthy  of  the  pit  reigned  in  human 
bosoms. 

The  first  rush  of  the  torrent  swept  the  disciples  off  their 
feet,  confounded  all  their  reasonings,  and  stranded  them 
on  the  rocks  of  despair.  The  storm  burst  upon  them  like 
the  devastating  cyclone  unawares.  The  conflict  in  their 
minds  between  their  matured  belief  in  the  divinity  of  their 
leader,  and  the  unavoidable  conclusions  from  his  defeat  and 
death  were  soul-harrowing.  In  the  light  of  Calvary,  their 
former  convictions  seemed  untenable;  it  had  become  neces- 
sary to  review  and  correct  too  hastily  formed  opinions  by 
the  result.  "We  trusted  that  it  had  been  he"  expressed 
the  whole  they  dared  to  hope.  Friends  and  enemies  sup- 
posed that  they  hjad  seen  the  end ;  and  opinions  gravitated 
downwards. 

The  disciples  had  seen  an  unaccountable  change  in  their 
master.  They  had  seen  him  in  Gethsemane  overcome  with 
inex])licable  anguish:  weakened  and  reduced  by  inward 
conflict,  until  the  strength  of  ordinary  manhood  was  no 
longer  in  him :  they  had  seen  him  bound  and  led  away 
unresisting  whom  the^-  had  thought  no  hand  could  touch 
without  beinginstantly  paralyzed;  they  had  seen  him  mocked, 
spitted  on,  smitten,  even  nailed  to  the  cross;  w^hile  the 
rack  had  been  made  to  wi-ench  the  bones  out  of  their 
joints.  Instead  of  deliverance  came  the  dire  complaint  that 
(lod  hnd  forsaken  him;  and  when  challenged  to  como  down 


CALVARY    AND   ITS   VICTIM.  437 

from  the  cross,  he  still  hung-  and  died  forsaken  of  God  and 
man,  and  derided  as  the  prince  of  malefactors. 

To  the  disciples  he  was  yet  "a  prophet  mighty  in  word 
and  deed  before  God  and  all  the  people;'"  but  their  faith  in 
his  divinity  was  shaken.  "All  ye  shall  be  offended  because 
of  me  this  night,"  was  the  true  description  of  them.  They 
were  verging  toward  apostasy.  If  the  devil  was  not  per- 
mitted to  use  his  sieve  to  their  overthrow;  they  were 
almost  within  the  suck  of  the  cataract;  Jesus  had  prayed 
for  them  and  they  escaped ;  but  they  accumulated  materials 
for  future  self-knowledge;  and  gained  telescopic  views 
of  the  great  adversary  and  his  operations  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  unassisted  eye.  A  more  effective  preparation 
for  their  immediate  work  cannot  be  named ;  it  was  the 
climax  of  their  education. 

A  singular  paralysis  had  affected  their  memor3^  At  his 
arrest  his  simple  look  would  have  been  sufficient  to  defeat 
it,  had  he  willed.  He  submitted  as  the  stronger  party,  dic- 
tating terms  of  surrender,  by  which  they  were  exempted 
from  intended  seizure;  the  resetting  of  the  ear  of  Malchus 
showed  that  his  power  was  not  in  the  least  abridged;  the 
convulsion  of  nature  when  he  died  proved,  that  all  the 
forces  of  the  seen  and  unseen  would  have  moved  to  deliver 
him  had  he  consented ;  but  all  this  was  forgotten  in  their 
pani(3.  For  they  were  evidently  overwhelmed  with  mental 
terror. 

The  undertaking  in  which  they  were  engaged,  was,  as 
they  understood  it,  a  rebellion  against  the  established 
powers,  and  an  attempt  at  their  overturn.  The  sight  of 
these  worldly  powers  rising  in  their  hostile  might  against 
them,  now  standing  in  the  fore-front  as  the  visible  princi- 
pals in  the  revolutionary  movement,  drove  them  into  a 
panic.  The  leader,  who  should  have  borne  the  brunt,  was 
gone ;  and  they  found  themselves  exposed  to  the  whole  fury 
of  the  storm,  which  had  been  long  rising  and  was  now 
bursting.  Such  an  overthrow  of  hopes,  for  which  all  had 
been  sacrificed,  and  such  a  danger,  whose  terror  had  not 
been  realized  before,  sunk  them  into  a  despondencj'  which 
carried  them  to  the  very  bottom.  They  had  been  so  de- 
ceived, that  they  would  not  listen  to  any  thing  more  on 


438  THE   GREAT   SACRIFICE. 

the  subject ;  they  rejected  evidence.  They  had  been  so 
misled  and  put  in  jeopardy,  that  they  closed  their  hearts 
against  any  further  appeal.  The  utterness  of  their  delusion 
added  to  the  stren^vth  of  the  determination  to  hear  no 
more.  While  they  b^'  no  means  abjured  the  name  of  the 
Nazarene,  they  were  bent  on  abandoning;  the  cause  which 
they  had  so  zealously  espoused.  They  could  not  be  moved 
to  any  further  advance;  a  pais}'  had  seized  them.  All 
agreed  with  determined  unanimity,  and  adhered  to  their 
position  with  an  unconquerable  tenacity. 

It  was  vain  that  Mary  Magdalene  insisted  that  she  had 
seen  the  Lord,  and  recognized  his  unmistakable  voice;  one 
when  alone  can  be  easily  deceived.  In  vain  the  company- 
of  several  women  added  their  testimony  to  having  seen 
him,  heard  him,  and  touched  his  feet;  they  were  but 
women,  and  easily  imposed  on.  In  vain  the  two  from 
Emmaus  related  their  walk  with  him.  and  their  assurance 
that  his  death  and  resurrection  were  clearly  foretold  in 
their  scriptures,  as  he  had  convinced  their  burning  hearts. 
"All  seemed  to  them  as  idle  tales;  and  they  believed  them 
not,"  being  full}^  determined  to  follow  no  misleading  light 
farther  into  the  swamps  of  delusion. 

Nothing  short  of  ocular  demonstration  had  power  to  stir 
them,  or  create  the  smallest  ripple  in  their  souls.  Thomas 
could  not  be  satisfied  with  this;  he  would  not  believe  his 
own  eyes  and  ears.  He  had  known  instances  of  the  decep- 
tion of  the  senses  of  sight  and  hearing;  and  he  would  de- 
mand the  fullest;  evidence  that  could  be  given ;  he  would 
explore  with  his  own  finger  the  wounds  in  the  hands  and 
the  feet,  and  thrtist  his  whole  hand  into  the  deep  spear 
gash  in  his  side:  and  then  there  could  be  no  mistake. 
•These  men  were  honest,  but  the  s])irit  of  the  most  exact- 
ing scepticism  was  in  them:  once  deceived,  they  would 
never  be  deceived  again.  As  usual  with  the  Lord  Jesus, 
he  granted  all  the  proof,  which  the  most  stubborn  unbelief 
could  Msk. 

While  the  resurrection  of  their  master  brought  a  flood 
of  light  into  the  minds  of  the  eleven,  it  was  his  visible 
ascension  to  the  skies  that  removed  the  beam  entirely  out 
of  their  eves,   and   ti'ansfornifd   th(Mn   into  apostles.    They 


CALVARY  AND  ITS  VICTIM.  439 

saw  for  the  first  time  that  his  metropolis  was  not  to  be 
Jerusalem;  but  the  right  hand  of  the  Father;  that  his 
king-doni  was  not  to  be  Judea,  but  the  world;  that  every 
creature  under  heaven  was  to  be  embraced  under  his  spir- 
itual rule;  that  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost  are  three 
equal  persons  in  a  Trinity,  whose  names  they  then  heard  for 
the  first  time  associated.  When  they  once  understood  the 
great  scheme,  of  which  they  had  been  unadvised  specta- 
tors; and  felt  the  grandeur  of  the  mighty  undertaking- 
worthy  of  the  self-sacrifice  of  him,  whom  they  now  realized 
to  be  God  in  the  highest,  supremest  sense,  they  could  not 
contain  themselves. 

Each  one,  appalled  at  his  own  unbelief  and  treason 
second  only  to  that  of  Judas,  forgot  all  contests  for  the 
preeminence,  in  desire  to  be  the  least  and  humblest  of  the 
compan3^  Condemning  themselves  with  the  most  sweeping- 
severity,  they  enforced  the  requirements  of  their  master 
with  a  vigor  passing  the  bounds  of  reason.  They  inter- 
preted literally  the  injunction,  "sell  all  that  thou  hast  and 
give  to  the  poor,"  refusing  to  call  anything  which  they 
possessed  their  own.  They  obeyed  the  command  "follow 
me"  by  taking  the  path,  that  led  surely  to  the  cross  or 
the  block.  Not  that  they  unwisely  courted  opposition;  they 
acted  with  a  wisdom,  a  tact,  a  tenderness,  and  a  courage 
which  have  ever  been  the  admiration  of  the  world.  Their 
highest  glory  was  the  call  to  suffer  shame  and  loss  for 
their  master's  sake. 

The  authors  of  the  gospels  have  so  hidden  themselves  be- 
hind their  master,  that  we  can  scarcely  define  their  distinc- 
tive individuality;  of  like  tenor  was  all  their  preaching: 
the}"  preached  not  themselves  but  their  Lord;  and  took 
pleasure  in  reproaches  and  distresses  for  his  sake.  With  a 
courage  of  a  quality  before  unknown,  they  evangelized  the 
world;  until  in  less  than  three  centuries  Rome  assumed  the 
hated  name.  In  their  inmost  souls  was  a  shrine  luminous 
ever  with  the  memory  of  the  H0I3'  One,  where  the  spirit  of 
God  kept  the  fire  continually  burning  and  the  light  ever 
blazing. 

These  men  certainly  went  through  the  greatest  and  most 
extreme  vicissitudes    of   emotion   ever   experienced.    From 


440  THE   GREAT  SACRIFICE. 

the  altitude  of  the  liighest  wordly  hopes,  they  were  plunged 
most  suddenly  into  the  profoundest  mire  of  despair;  a  des- 
pair which  took  away  the  breath  of  their  spirits.  Out  of 
this  they  at  length  emerged  into  a  higher  life  than  has  ever 
since  been  vouchsafed  to  mortals.  They  sit  upon  thrones 
above  all  the  tribes  of  earth.  Those  of  them  who  are  the 
authors  of  our  gospels  have  each  recited  the  history  and 
experience  of  his  own  soul,  in  reaching  the  conviction  of 
the  supreme  deity  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  a  conviction  which 
the  candid  reader  can  but  adopt. 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  441 


chapti:r  xli, 


THE  ASCENSION, 


The  ascension  probably  occurred  on  the  first  day  of  the 
week,  the  Christian  Sabbath;  that  being  the  day  selected 
by  the  Savior  for  his  appearances  and  meetings  with  his  dis- 
ciples. His  repeated  use  of  this  day  secured  its  recogni- 
tion as  the  Sabbath  of  the  future  under  the  name  of  Lord's 
day.  To  his  own  example  the  sanctity  of  an  express  com- 
mand maj"  have  been  added,  though  we  are  left  to  infer 
this  only  from  the  order  instituted  in  the  early  Christian 
church.  A  single  expression  in  the  history  confirms  this 
opinion  of  the  day  of  the  ascension:  "he  led  them  out  as 
far  as  Bethany;  and  they  returned  from  the  mount  called 
Olivet,  which  is  from  Jerusalem  a  Sabbath  day's  journey."' 
He  ascended  from  the  eastern  side  of  Olivet,  from  some 
spot  secluded  from  observation,  and  within  the  limits  of 
Sabbath  travel. 

The  departure  of  their  master  seems  to  have  been  en- 
tirely unexpected  by  the  twelve,  though  it  had  been  pre- 
dicted in  the  Psalms,  Ixviii:  18,  and  had  been  obscurely 
alluded  to  at  least  once  hy  our  Lord  himself,  John  vi :  62; 
yet  their  attention  had  never  been  expressly  called  to  it: 
and  when  it  occurred,  it  came  upon  them  unawares,  sur- 
prising them  by  its  suddenness,  and  overw^helming  them  by 
the  sadness  of  the  final  parting  without  an  adieu,  in 
which  their  full  hearts  could  have  found  some  relief.  Affec- 
tion demands  the  privilege  of  its  farewell ;  and  finds  a 
satisfaction  in  a  tearful  separation,  when  iron  destiny  de- 
mands it;  and  hearts  are  to  be  sundered,  that  beat  as 
one.  The  visible  ascension  was  a  very  necessary  factor  in 
the  work  of  Christ;  and  it  had  a  greater  influence  in 
enlightening  and  moulding  his  followers  than  any  other 
single  occurrence  of  his  ministry. 


442  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE. 

1.  It  destroyed  the  last  vestige  of  a  liope  of  an  earthlv 
kiu^'dora  in  the  minds  of  the  disciples.  This  expectation 
had  animated  them  in  their  alleg-i an ce  to  the  Nazarene  from 
the  beo-inuino-.  In  the  estimation  of  a  Jew  religion  and 
patriotic  feeling  were  connected,  the  prosperity  of  their 
nation  being  always  connected  with  their  religious  faithful- 
ness. The  twelve  had  associated  for  the  liberation  of  their 
people,  as  well  as  for  the  rsstoration  of  a  pure  religion. 
The  hope  of  it  adhered  to  them  to  the  very  last;  "we 
trusted  that  it  had  been  he,  that  should  have  delivered 
Israel."  Even  after  the  resurrection,  the  great  question 
with  them  was:  "Lord  wilt  thou  at  this  time  restore  the 
Kingdom  to  Israel?"'  It  might  well  have  been  expected 
that  such  anticipations  should  root  themselves  in  the  heart 
of  a  Jew;  as  all  the  Avonderful  predictions  of  the  victories, 
affCTandizement  and  glorv  of  the  church  in  the  latter  davs 
stand  in  the  Old  Testament  as  promises  made  to  "Zion," 
"Jerusalem,"  "Israel,"  and  the  throne  and  Kingdom  of 
"David."  Examples  of  this  kind  are  Is.  ix:  7  "Of  the  in- 
crease of  his  government  and  peace  there  shall  be  no  end, 
upon  the  throne  of  David  and  upon  his  Kingdom ;  to  order 
it  and  to  establish  it  with  judgment  and  with  justice  from 
henceforth  even  forever."  Is.  xl:  18.  It  is  said  to  "Zion," 
"lift  up  thine  e.yes  round  about,  and  behold;  all  these 
gather  themselves  together  and  came  to  thee.  As  I  live, 
saith  the  Lord,  thou  shalt  surely  clothe  thee  with  them  all 
as  with  an  ornament,  and  "bind  them  on  thee  as  a  bride 
doeth."    The  nations  would  be  added  to  the  Jewish  church. 

These  are  by  n6  means  scattei-ed  descriptions;  but  in 
reading  in  our  days  the  writings  of  the  prophets,  it  is 
necessary  to  substitute  in  the  place  of  Zion  or  Jerusalem 
to  which  the  promises  are  made,  the  name  of  the  (Christian 
ciiurch.  This  being  the  constant  tenor  of  the  Jewish  scrip- 
tures, a  Jew  could  hardl.y  be  expected  to  understand  them 
in  the  gentile  sense.  No  conviction  ever  got  deeper  hold  of 
men's  minds  in  all  the  history  of  mind,  than  did  this  of  the 
inalienable  privileges  of  Israel,  ])ossess  the  minds  of  the 
apostles.  The  glowing-imagery  of  prophecy  to  them  painted, 
in  all  the  delineations  of  the  Messiah's  kingdom,  the  future 
glory  of  Israel:  and  to  contradict  this  deep-seated  presenti- 


LORD   OF    LIFE   AND   GLORY.  443 

ment  was  in  the  estimation  of  the  mass  of  the  nation  indeed 
revoltin^ly  criminal;  it  was  treason  poUtically  and  crime 
relio•iousl3^  To  the  apostles  possessed  of  such  misconcep- 
tions, it  appeared  that  their  master's  cause  demanded  his 
personal  attendance  on  the  earth ;  and  when  they  saw  him 
take  his  leave  of  the  world,  and  withdraw  his  bodily  pres- 
ence to  the  world  of  glory,  the  whole  fabric  of  their  "king- 
dom" vanished.  Nothing  less  than  ocular  demonstration 
could  have  corrected  their  misapprehensions.  Indeed  not- 
withstanding this  visible  proof,  such  was  the  vitality  of 
their  national  bigotry,  that  it  required  time  for  them  to  ac- 
commodate themselves  to  the  entirely  new  order  of  things. 

But  it  dawned  upon  them  in  the  hour  of  their  master's 
departure  that  the  Jewish  throne  would  never  be  rebuilt: 
that  the  sceptre  had  departed  from  Judah  forever,  and  the 
lawgiver  from  between  his  feet.  The  nation  had  rejected 
Jesus,  and  he  had  rejected  them.  They  had  never  been 
more  unitedly  and  bitterly  agreed  about  any  one  thing, 
than  that  the^^  would  not  have  this  man  to  reign  over 
them  ;  and  thus  had  decided  their  own  worldly  future.  The 
sight  of  their  ascending  master  disabused  the  minds  of 
these  favored  twelve  of  their  unwarranted  scheme  of  an 
earthly  royalty,  whose  offices  they  had  often  in  anticipa- 
tion divided  among  themselves,  and  to  which  they  had 
clung  notwithstanding  all  his  teachings  in  correction  of 
their  fancies.  While  this  was  a  sad  overthrow  of  their 
worldl3^  plans  and  hopes,    it  was  also  an  emancipation. 

It  gave  them  an  understanding  for  the  first  time  of  the 
real  nature  of  the  kingdom  which  he  was  to  estabhsh. 
He  was  still  a  king,  in  the  language  of  their  Scriptures, 
"the  king  of  glory."  They  were  able  to  define  the  nature 
of  his  rule  by  what  they  were  conscious  of  in  their  own 
souls.  He  was  king  of  hearts,  and  his  dominion  was  a 
spiritual  empire,  as  much  superior  to  a  sublunary  mon- 
archy, as  heaven  is  higher  than  the  earth.  His  throne  is 
to  be  the  heart  of  humanity;  and  his  reign  the  theocracy, 
unlike  that  of  the  wilderness,  in  that  its  jurisdiction  should 
extend  over  all  the  nations  of  mankind. 

In  order  to  found  a  kingdom,  the  first  requisite  is  a  king, 
whose  superiority  shall  command  the  admiration,  the  liom- 


444  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH  AND  THE   GRAVE. 

ao:e  and  the  obedience  of  all;  who  can  be  loved  and  trusted, 
and  whom  it  is  a  privilege  to  obey ;  whom  the  instinct  of 
a  nation  detects  among-  the  shifting-  characters  which  at- 
tract public  attention ;  to  whom  adverse  circumstances 
3ield ;  and  hostile  surroundings  are  made  to  do  homage. 
Such  a  one,  when  found,  is  the  foundation  of  the  people. 
There  was  never  such  a  victor  as  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  He 
came  off  conqueror  out  of  the  clouds  of  deepest  darkness, 
that  ever  enveloped  any  with  their  Stygian  shades.  Out  of 
apparent  defeat  he  snatched  the  victory.  Seemingly  over- 
borne by  the  powers  of  earth  and  hell,  he  suffered  them  to  do 
their  worst,  to  discharge  against  him  the  deadliest  venom 
of  their  poison,  and  enduring  without  a  murmur,  having 
loved  the  world,  he  loved  it  to  the  end,  and  in  djing, 
saved  his  enemies. 

Few  have  been  found  worthy  of  the  title  to  an  earthly 
throne;  one  there  is  who  has  proved  his  claim  to  the 
throne  of  universal  dominion.  The  great  weapon  by  which 
he  conquers  is  love:  he  heaps  coals  of  fire  upon  the  heads 
of  enemies,  and  burns  their  enmity  entirely  out.  His  king- 
dom is  the  kingdom  of  love;  his  law  the  law  of  love;  his 
subjects  are  bound  to  him  by  ties  stronger  than  those  that 
bind  worlds  to  their  sun ;   his  throne  is  the  submissive  soul- 

His  kingdom  is  an  invisible  kingdom,  but  only  the  more 
real  and  forceful  on  that  account.  He  can  •  be  ever  with 
his  people,  though  unseen.  He  says  to  them  that  serve 
him:"  lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world.''  The  best  and  dearest  friends  cannot  say  this; 
they  are  torn  asundfer  and  separated  ;  so  that  none  can  have 
the  comforting  assurance  of  their  aid  beyond  the  present 
hour.  But  this  King  is  ever  with  those  that  trust  him. 
Nothing  "can  separate,  not  deathn  or  life,  nor  angels  nor 
principalities  nor  powers,  nor  things  present  nor  things  to 
come.'  He  is  with  his  people,  not  as  Jehovah  was  with 
his  Israel  in  a  pillar  of  cloud  and  of  fire;  but  inwardly  and 
truly  in  their  hearts'  most  holy  place  as  his  temple.  In 
the  holy  of  holies  of  the  soul  where  none  other  can  enter, 
there  this  king  abides  as  in  his  chosen  dwelling;  and  there 
he  holds  communion  with  them  from  off  the  mercv  seat. 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  445 

He  is  the  more  reall}'  present  with  them  for-  being:  absent 
from  the  world.  He  can  at  any  time  or  place  manifest 
himself  unto  them  as  he  does  not  to  the  world.  When 
Stephen  was  in  a  crowd  of  murderers,  Jesus  manifested 
himself  to  him,  and  not  to  the  world  of  opposers  about 
him.  He  was  present  to  Paul's  spiritual  perception  not 
onl^'  on  the  road  to  Damascus ;  but  in  the  temple,  to  send 
him  awa^^  from  the  machinations  of  his  enemies;  in  the 
duno:eon  of  Philippi;  on  the  sea,  when  "all  hope  that 
we  should  be  saved  was  taken  away."  And  when  he  stood 
before  Nero,  and  "no  one  stood  with  him;  but  all  men  for- 
sook him;'"  then  Jesus  was  present  as  if  visibly  standino- 
at  his  side.  As  he  was  present  walking  with  the  three 
Hebrew  children  in  the  fiery  furnace;  so  he  has  been  really 
in  every  fire  at  the  stake  that  has  ever  consumed  a  Chris- 
tian martyr.  The  angel  in  whom  is  the  divine  name  has 
made  his  presence  felt  in  many  a  den  of  lions,  and  under 
many  a  juniper  tree;  and  never  have  his  sympathy  and 
succor  been  more  ready  and  more  effective  than  after  the 
heavens  received  him  out  of  our  sight. 

The  most  astonishing  feature  of  this  kingdom  had  been 
just  revealed  to  them  and  to  the  world  in  the  words  of 
the  great  commission  which  had  just  fallen  from  the  lips 
of  the  ascending  conqueror.  It  was  open  to  every  crea- 
ture under  heaven.  It  is  to  be  universal  in  its  reach,  ex- 
tending to  ever}^  human  being  its  privileges  and  advan- 
tages. While  the  sublimity  and  glory  of  the  plan  almost 
staggered  their  understanding,  its  unheard  of  novelty  ex- 
panded their  souls  with  affections  and  responsibilities 
hitherto  unfelt  by  mortals.  The  world  has  named  the 
Macedonian  "great"  not  in  consideration  of  his  deeds  of 
prowess  merely,  but  on  account  of  his  mighty  aspirations. 
It  has  never  ceased  to  admire  him  weeping  at  the  convic- 
tion of  the  existence  of  other  worlds  than  this,  and  re- 
gretting with  tears  that  he  had  not  3^et  conquered  one. 
The  ambition  of  universal  empire  has  never  entered  the 
dreams  of  more  than  the  fewest  of  earth's  heroes.  With 
Jesus  it  was  not  a  dream.  As  Napoleon  said,  the  idea  has 
never  been  actualized  but  by  the  Nazarene.  The  Jewish 
institution  was  the  diminutive  bud  opening  just  then  into 


446  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH    AND   THE    GRAVE. 

the  magnifieeiit  Hower,  that  should  fill  the  world  with  its 
life-restorino-  fragrance.  The  forces  were  just  then  being- 
loosed  which  should  leaven  human  society.  Though  the 
(•liurch  afterward  showed  itself  backward  in  entering  upon 
the  work  of  the  conversion  of  the  world :  yet  the  mighty 
thought  then  took  full  possession  of  the  favored  twelve; 
and  elevated  them  from  narrow  and  exclusive  bigots  into 
apostles  and  missionaries  to  the  race. 

The  greatest  pro])hets,  Moses,  Isaiah  and  DanieL  were 
not  more  overcome  by  the  glory  of  the  visions  and  revela- 
tions vouchsafed,  than  were  these  twelve  simple-minded 
Jews  at  the  truth  now  first  announced  to  the  world,  and 
dawning  upon  them  like  the  sun  in  its  rising.  The  men, 
who  once  forbade  a  disciple  to  use  the  name  of  Jesus,  be- 
cause he  followed  not  with  them,  and  Avho  would  not  eat 
with  men  of  another  nation,  were  now  moving  with  sym- 
pathies wide  as  the  race.  This  kingdom  offered  to  all  lib- 
eration, not  from  Roman  oppression;  it  had  no  conflict 
with  any  established  authority ;  but  from  the  power  of  sin, 
whose  bondage  is  more  cruel,  and  whose  service  is  attended 
with  all  possible  calamities,  of  which  it  is  indeed  the  parent 
and  source.  The  plan  of  such  a  dominion  was  never  origin- 
ated in  the  mind  of  a  creature. 

The  idea  of  a  kingdom  superior  to  all  established  gov- 
ernments, yet  not  conflicting  with  any,  but  rather  con- 
tributing to  their  stability,  capable  of  uniting  the  whole 
world  of  mankind  in  loving  loyalty  to  one  supreme  ruler, 
and  binding  the  whole  humanity  into  one  great  brotherhood 
by  a  tie  infinitely  stronger  than  that  of  consanguinity^;  and 
demonstrating  its  practicability  wherever  its  forces  are 
permitted  free  action,  is  too  grand  a  conception  to  have 
ever  been  born  in  the  mind  of  an  ephemeron  like  man.  The 
very  conception  stamps  its  author  divine.  It  is  not  the 
fancy  of  a  wild  enthusiasm;  but  is  developing  before  the 
eyes  of  the  world  into  "the  kingdom  of  heaven;"  and  will 
yet  make  this  earth  a  miniature  of  the  world  of  glory. 
Those,  who  saw  the  movement  in  the  feebleness  of  its  be- 
ginning, might  have  had  more  reason  to  doubt  of  its  suc- 
cess, than  we  who  are  beholding  the  developments  of  the 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  447 

present  era;   when  its  forces,  *f reed  from  the  limitations  of 
the  past,  are  marshahno-  for  the  conquest  of  the  world. 

In  constructing  this  kinodom,  the  building-  is  carried  from 
the  bottom  upward.  The  foundation  is  laid  among  the 
poor,  the  ignorant,  even  the  outcast  and  the  vile.  The 
gospel  is  preached  to  the  poor,  who  comprise  ninety-nine 
hundredths  of  the  population  every  where.  Our  Lord, 
through  his  whole  life,  identified  himself  with  the  poor;  he 
disregarded  altogether  the  distinctions  of  rank  and  station ; 
his  teachings  were  level  to  the  comprehension  of  the  poor; 
the  subjects  of  his  miracles  were  almost  without  exception 
poor;  he  chose  his  disciples  from  the  poor;  the  bless- 
ings of  his  gospel  are  evidently  suited  to  the  condition  of 
the  poor,  of  whom  ancient  civilization  said :  "Odi  profanum 
vulgus  et  arceo."'  It  cannot  be  denied  that  anjong  this 
class  are  found  more  genuine  sympathy,  mutual  helpfulness, 
and  unaffected  kindhness  of  feeling,  than  among  the  more 
favored  ranks  of  society ;  and  that  they  are  more  open  to 
heavenly  influences.  Any  movement,  that  would  touch  the 
great  heart  of  humanity,  and  sweep  the  race,  must  of  ne- 
cessity begin  with  the  lower  strata  of  society. 

Who  has  taught  the  world  this?  Whence  have  we  learned 
this  profound  lesson?  From  Jesus  Christ  and  from  no 
other  source.  AVhen  political  science  makes  progress,  and 
after  ages  of  experiment  the  principles  of  just  and 
equitable  government  are  unfolded;  and  new  forms  of  ad- 
ministration take  the  place  of  effete  systems;  and  the 
world  makes  evident  advance;  the  boast  is  made  of  new 
discoveries  and  of  new  light  added  to  the  world's  intelli- 
gence. But  we  may  look  back  and  see,  that  all  these 
discoveries  are  contained  in  the  words  of  the  Nazarene,  and 
that  they  have  emanated  from  him.  The  leaven  of  his  teach- 
ings has  been  working  slowly;  but  it  is  inspiring  the  world 
to-day.  The  germs  of  all  that  can  conduce  to  the  ameliora- 
tion of  society,  the  reformation  of  abuses,  and  the  salva- 
tion of  the  world,  are  to  be  found  in  his  gospel. 

III.  The  ascension  enlarged  to  boundless  dimensions 
their  views  of  their  master's  personality  and  work.  It  is 
impossible  to  form  a  proper  estimate  of  our  Lord's  per- 
sonality, unless  we  have  suitable  and  correct  views  of  the 


448  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH   AND   THE    GRAVE. 

work  which  he  accomplished.  A  lack  of  such  understanding- 
lies  at  the  bottom  of  all  Arianism,  Socinianism  and  like 
errors.  He,  who  limits  the  mission  of  Christ  to  that  of  a 
mere  teacher  come  from  God  to  show  us  certain  moral 
truths,  or  give  us  an  example  of  invincible  love,  can  but 
find  his  estimate  of  the  personality  of  the  great  messenger 
correspondingly  dwarfed.  He  can  but  ask,  why  the  need 
of  the  presence  of  the  supreme  lawgiver  himself  among  men, 
if  this  was  all  that  the  necessities  of  the  situation  de- 
manded? If,  however,  we  assign  to  him  the  great  work  of 
redeeming  lost  souls  from  the  bondage  of  sin,  and  its  un- 
ending retributions,  b3"  an  atoning  sacrifice  that  shall  sus- 
tain the  honor  of  the  divine  law,  by  a  full  equivalent  for 
their  remitted  punishment:  this  work  demands  the  utmost 
interference  of  the  Most  High  himself  in  person;  and  it 
becomes  impossible  to  exaggerate  the  dignity  and  excel- 
lence of  the  redeemer. 

The  opinions  respecting  his  person  necessarily  vary  ac- 
cording to  men's  estimate  of  his  work.  Thus  while  his  im- 
mediate followers  limited  his  work  to  the  mere  emancipa- 
tion of  a  single  nation  from  the  insufferable  tyran^-  of 
Rome;  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  form  a  correct  judg- 
ment of  his  personality.  They  professed  indeed  to  receive 
him  as  the  Son  of  God ;  the  testimony-  before  them  admit- 
ted of  no  less,  but  absolutely  demanded  this  confession: 
but  the  title  is  susceptible  of  various  significations.  The 
angel  Gabriel  at  the  annunciation  used  it  of  his  simple 
humanity:  "that  h^oly  thing,  that  shall  be  born  of  thee, 
shall  be  called  the  8on  of  God."  The  designation  in  the 
mouths  of  the  apostles  may  have  meant,  only  that  God 
was  with  him  in  some  mystei'ious  and  unexplained  connec- 
tion. In  its  highest  sense  it  is  applied  to  the  second  person 
of  the  uncreated  three ;  and  in  this  sense  the  apostles  could 
say  for  the  first  time,  that  he  whom  they  had  attended, 
was  the  Son  of  God  in  the  full  latitude  of  its  meanino-. 
None  of  them  ever  called  him  God  until  after  his  resurrec- 
tion: but  now  the  last  scale  had  fallen  from  their  eyes, 
that  obstructed  a  proper  estimate  of  his  real  ]ierson;  and 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND    GLORV.  449 

a  larg-e  scale  it  was,  almost  a  cataract,  wlieu  their  minds 
were  disabused  of  their  narrow  Jewish  notions  of  a  tem- 
poral deliverer. 

They  awoke  suddenly  to  the  full  realization  of  his  supreme 
divinity;  and  he  was  gone.  They  had  companied  with  him 
three  years  in  the  most  intimate  society,  and  had  not 
known  him.  Moses  had  feared  to  look  upon  him  revealed 
in  the  burning  bush ;  Isaiah  had  almost  fallen  into  despair 
at  sight  of  him  upon  a  throne  high  and  lifted  up;  Daniel 
had  fainted  before  him  and  been  sick  many  days ;  but  they 
had  gone  in  and  out  with  him  in  the  most  endeared  com- 
panionship, and  had  not  known  him.  They  had  eaten  and 
drunk  with  him,  and  had  such  fellowship  as  only  the  dearest 
and  most  trusted  friends  have,  and  had  not  known  him. 
How  they  desired  to  see  again  one  of  the  days  of  the  son 
of  man!  but  they  were  gone.  How  they  desired  to  hear 
again  the  things  which  prophets  and  kings  desired  to  hear! 
but  the  unappreciated  opportunity  was  past. 

IV.  Their  faith  had  been  wavering  and  irregular.  It  had 
required  two  years  of  observation,  and  one  of  close  inti- 
macy to  convince  them,  that  he  was  indeed  the  Son  of  God. 
On  numberless  occasions  they  had  received  well-merited  re- 
buke for  their  unbelief,  and  had  even  grieved  him  until  he 
exclaimed :  "'How  long  shall  I  be  with  you?  how  long  shall 
I  suffer  you?"  Their  views  of  him  were  always  low  and 
unworthy,  and  they  had  no  proper  understanding  of  his 
power  and  readiness  to  help  them.  When  Satan  desired  to 
"have  them,  that  he  might  sift  them  as  wheat,"  their 
faith  might  have  failed  altogether,  had  not  the  master 
prayed  that  such  might  not  be.  In  that  dreadful  night  they 
were  "offended  because  of  him."  His  arrest  and  seeming 
weakness  in  the  hands  of  his  enemies  almost  drove  their 
wavering  minds  to  adverse  conclusions  respecting  him. 
Two  of  the  company,  though  neither  of  them  an  apostle, 
on  the  way  to  Emmaus,  spoke  of  him  as  a  "prophet 
mighty  in  word  and  deed."  A  prophet,  indeed.  This  was 
almost  an  entire  lapse  of  faith  in  him  as  the  Son  of  God. 

There  was  sufficient  evidence  of  his  divinitj^  before  the 
mind  of  Judas,  much  more  of  Petei',  and  James,  and  John ; 
but  their  faith  wavered.    Had  t\iej  known,  as  thev  knew 

29 


450  VICTOR  OVER  DEATH   AND  THE  GRAVE. 

later,  who  and  what  he  was,  they  would  never  have  for- 
saken him  and  tied:  Peter  would  never  have  denied  him. 
Tliey  would  never  have  left  him  to  die  alone,  without  the 
succor  of  their  presence.  When  our  friends  are  gone  past 
recall,  busy  memory  pierces  the  very  soul  with  harrowing 
recollections  of  instances  of  ingratitude  and  unldndness  on 
our  part,  now  past  correction.  Much  room  for  self-accusa- 
tion was  there  indeed  in  this  case;  and  Peter's  bitter  tears 
and  agonized  repentance  were  only  an  example  of  what 
they  all  suffered. 

They  had  believed  that  he  "came  out  from  God;"  that 
there  was  a  living  sympathy  between  him  and  the  Father ; 
but  their  confidence  required  continual  verification.  Jno. 
xvi:  30:  "By  this  we  believe  that  thou  camest  forth  from 
God."  Every  miracle  had  aided  their  faith,  which  indeed 
needed  such  constant  aid.  Jno.  ii :  11.  "This  did  Jesu& 
and  manifested  forth  his  glory,  and  his  disciples  believed  on 
him."  Matt,  xiv:  33.  "They,"  the  disciples,  "came  and 
worshiped  him,  saying:  "Of  a  truth  thou  art  the  Son  of 
God."  But  while  they  had  seen  the  "works  of  God"  daily 
wrought  before  their  eyes,  and  had  daily  heard  a  wisdom 
higher  than  inspiration  sounding  in  their  ears,  a  wisdom 
greater  than  Solomon's,  as  eternity  is  above  time,  a  wis- 
dom more  astounding  than  all  his  mighty  works,  their 
views  had  been  ver}^  defective  and  short  of  the  truth.  They 
had  fondly  believed  that  "God  was  with  him;"  now  they 
saw  that  himself  was  the  original  and  source  of  the  power 
whose  displays  had  eclipsed  all  the  wonders  of  old :  that 
this  power  was  net  derived  or  delegated,  but  appertained 
to  his  personality.  They  knew  at  length  that  the  unfath- 
omable wisdom  of  eternity  was  in  him  as  its  storehouse; 
that  himself  was  the  wisdom  of  God,  and  the  power  of 
God,  and  the  almighty  love  of  God. 

The  human  soul  can  entertain  no  higher  thought  than 
of  God ;  it  overfills  all  our  capacities  of  conception ;  and 
overstrains  our  imagination:  and  then  comes  short  by 
millions  of  angel  knowledge.  Those  bright  spirits,  who  with 
strong  immortal  eyes  saw  him  ages  ago  hang  this  world 
upon  nothing,  and  adjust  by  a  single  touch  the  movements 
which  it  has  since  observed,  know  how  little  of  him!    He  is 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND    GLORY.  451 

past    finding    out.    All    this    and  infinitel^^  more    Jesns  of 
Nazareth  was,  "God  manifest  in  the  flesh.'' 

There    never  was    on   earth    a    company  more   intensely 
excited  by  deep  and  conflicting  emotions,  than  that  which 
stood  somewhere  upon  the  eastern  slope  of  Olivet  on  that 
memorable   Sabbath    day.    The   loud    weeping   could    not 
check  the    fervent    exultation    of   the  hour.    The   pang  of 
separation  which    we  all    know,    as    we  have  felt  it  by  the 
couch  of  death,  the  bitter  agonies  of  a  repentance  like  to 
tear  the  heart  asunder,  the  triumphant  recognition  of  the 
God,  the  awe  and  fear  always  accompanying  the  knowledge 
of   his  presence,  the   joy  of   hailing  the  victor  over  death, 
hell,  and    the   grave,   and    sin,  the    mighty  outburst    of    a 
faith  near  akin  to  sight,  all    had  their  unrestrained  utter- 
ance in  that  wild  tumult  of  feeling.    Self-government    and 
self-control   there    was  none.    Feelings  incapable  of    check 
forced  their  expression,  and  hurried  the  actors  off  their  bal- 
ance;  utterly  unforseen  as  the  departure  was.    His  hands 
were  even  yet  stretched  out  in  blessing  them,  and  the  words 
were  warm  on  his  lips,  when  at  once  the  clay  tabernacle 
put  on  its    spiritual  form  and  aspect;   a  more  than  trans- 
figuration light  shone  in  his  countenance;   and    he    began 
slowly  to    ascend    towards  his  throne  in  the  skies.    They 
looked,  they  knelt,  they  fell  on  their  faces,  and  the  words 
of  his  blessing  were  still  lighting  upon  their  heads,  when  a 
passing    pillar    of   cloud    received  him  out  of  their  sight; 
while  each  of  them  felt  the  strength  of  a  great  multitude 
in  his  own  individual  soul.    Their  memory  of  him  became  as 
strong  as  sight.    Their  hearts  had  received  his  words  as 
the  sea  receives  treasures  cast  into  it,  capable  of  being  all 
recovered  without  loss  or  damage;   as  the  withered  fingers 
of  the  mummy  hold  the  grains  of  wheat  deposited  in  them 
three  thousand  years  ago,  yet  capable  of  growth. 

The  passing  cloud  brought  them  all  to  their  feet ;  and  as 
they  stood  gazing  steadfastly  up  to  heaven,  they  became 
conscious  of  the  presence  of  others.  Two  men  in  shining  gar- 
ments were  at  hand,  who  informed  them  that  this  was  the 
end  of  their  master's  abode  with  them  in  the  flesh ;  but  at 
the  close  of  the  dispensation  he  w^ould  so  come  again  as 
they  had  seen  him  go.    The  cloud  may  possibly  have  been 


452  VICTOR  OVER  DEATH  AND  THE   GRAVE. 

a  retinue  of  glorious  angels  come  to  accompany  him  on 
his  return  to  the  throne.  And  then  doubtless  Avas  ful- 
filled the  scripture  recorded  in  the  24th  Psalm.  As  the 
heavenly  escort  approached  the  battlements  of  heaven,  the 
call  was  made,  "lift  up  3'our  heads,  O  ye  gates,  and  be  ye 
lift  up  3'^e  everlasting  doors;  and  the  king  of  glory  shall 
come  in.''  From  within  comes  the  demand,  "Who  is  this 
king  of  glory?"  And  the  answer  is  returned,  "The  Lord 
strong  and  mighty,  the  Lord  mighty  in  battle."  He  is 
just  returning  from  the  battle  against  hell  and  sin;  where 
he  has  been  in  his  own  person  contending  against  the  evil 
powers  in  a  long  and  bloody  contest,  iu  which  he  has 
shown  himself  superior  to  all  the  power  of  the  enemy,  and 
is  returning  In  triumph.  Then  again  follows  the  refrain: 
"lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates,  and  be  ye  hft  up  ye  ever- 
lasting doors;   and  the  king  of  glory  shall  come  in." 

The  day  is  hastening  on  when  he  shall  come  as  he  went: 
"the  time  is  short"  himself  has  said.  He  shall  come  "in 
the  clouds  of  heaven,  seated  on  the  right  hand  of  power 
and  all  the  holy  angels  with  him."  They  were  with  him 
when  he  ascended,  but  not  visible  to  mortal  eyes.  He  shall 
come  in  his  glory:  his  throne  the  incommunicable  attrib- 
utes of  deity. 

As  at  Sinai  the  trumpet  aroused  the  sleeping  host  of 
Israel,  and  summoned  them  to  the  mount,  so  in  the  day  of 
his  coming  he  will  as  archangel  by  trumpet  and  by  voice 
arouse  the  sleeping  dead,  who  shall  come  forth;  "and 
every  eye  shall  sef.  him,  and  the}'  also  that  pierced  him." 
Indeed  they  will  see  nothing  else:  one  sight  will  engross 
every  soul.  "And  I  saw  a  great  white  throne  and  him  who 
sat  upon  it  from  whose  face  the  earth  and  the  heaven  fled 
away;  and  no  place  was  found  for  them.  And  I  saw  the 
dead  small  and  great  stand  before  God ;  and  the  books  were 
open(^d:"  the  book  of  memory,  the  book  of  conscience  and 
the  book  of  the  law  and  "the  dead  were  judged  out  of 
the  things  written  in  the  books"  "and  another  book  was 
opened  which  was  the  book  of  life"  i.  e.  of  Christian  ex- 
perience. 

His  ascension  is  a  pattern  of  our  own.  lOvery  fact  con- 
nected with  him  is  a  doctrine.     As  he  rose  so  shall  we:   as 


LORD  OF  LIFE   AND   GLORY.  453 

he  ascended  we  shall  follow.  When  he  shall  say:  "Come, 
ye  blessed  of  my  father,"  earth  will  no  longer  hold  us 
down:  we  shall  no  longer  belong  to  this  world.  The  liberty 
of  the  universe  will  be  ours.  Our  father's  house  contains 
many  mansions,  Avhich  may  be  open  to  our  visitation  and 
inspection.  Even  should  the  remodeled  earth  become  the 
abode  of  the  saints,  yet  it  shall  no  longer  be  a  prison  of 
confinement.  The  task  of  declaring  the  unutterable  love 
of  God,  and  telling  the  old,  old  story  of  the  cross  to  races 
yet  uncreated,  and  deterring  them  from  the  first  allure- 
ments of  temptation,  may  be  committed  to  these  tried 
spirits  that  have  known  good  and  have  also  known  evil. 


454  VICTOR  OVER  DEATH  AND  THE   GRAVE. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 


THE  INTERCESSION  OF  CHRIST, 


The  active  interference  of  the  Savior  in  behalf  of  men 
by  no  means  ceased  with  his  withdrawal  from  the  earth: 
as  it  did  not  commence  with  his  incarnation.  To  him  it 
ever  belongs  to  direct  the  application  of  his  atoning  merits 
to  individnals;  and  to  arrange  «the  course  of  his  church 
onward  to  the  stage  of  universal  victory.  For  the  accom- 
phshment  of  this  great  purpose  "all  power  is  given  to  him 
in  heaven  and  in  earth"  from  the  beginning.  At  the  same 
time  it  is  true,  that  we  know  less  of  this  than  of  any  other 
part  of  his  work.  It  is  carried  on  beyond  our  sight;  within 
the  veil  of  flesh  and  blood;  and  of  w'hat  is  transacted 
there,  we  can  form  no  adequate  conception.  As  it  had  been 
impossible  for  man  to  have  imagined  before  hand  the  course 
and  method  of  his  ministry  on  earth;  so  it  is  equalh'  be- 
yond our  power  to  describe  the  method  of  his  intercession 
in  heaven.  It  is  sufficient  for  us  to  know  that  his  inter- 
cession is  as  real,  as  necessary,  and  as  effectual,  as  his 
atonement,   of  which  it  is  the  completion. 

Froni  the  slight  glimpses  afforded  in  the  W'Ord  of  God, 
we  can  with  certainty  determine  a  few  things  connected 
with  it,  and  enjoy'' the  consolation  connected  with  them, 
without  trespassing  beyond  w'hat  is  written.  More  easy 
is  it  for  infancy'  to  comprehend  age,  than  for  us  to  enter 
into  the  comjjrehension  of  the  things,  which  God  has  hidden 
in  the  holy  of  liolies  of  the  universe,  whither  Christ  has  for 
us  entered. 

1.  Intercession  depends  on  affection.  It  is  made  only  for 
those  whose  welfare  is  as  dear  to  us  as  our  own  souls.  The 
Lord  mentions  Noah,  Daniel  and  Job  as  three  men  wliese 
prayers  have  been  offered  as  fervently  for  others,  as  for 
themselves.  They  are  signal  examples  of  prevailing  prayer. 
Noah,  moved  by  intimations  of  coming  judgment  like  the 


LORD  OF  LIFE  AND   GLORY.  455 

trumpet  blast  before  the  deadly  onset,  felt  thus  deeply  for 
those  of  his  own  house  rather  than  for  others:  Daniel  inter- 
ceded for  his  three  fellow  captives,  unified  by  a  common 
lot :  and  Job's  own  personal  acceptance  seems  to  have  been 
connected  with  his  forgiveness  of  the  three  who  had  come 
as  friends  to  comfort  him;  and  set  themselves  up  as  judges 
to  condemn  him.  Not  these  alone  are  the  only  instances 
named  in  the  scriptures  of  such  effectual  intercession. 

In  Abraham's  prayer  for  guilty  Sodom,  we  hear  still  the 
tenderness  and  importunity  of  the  pleadings  in  the  very 
words  spoken.  Daniel's  prayer  given  in  his  ninth  chapter  is 
similar.  He  confesses  the  sins  of  his  people,  as  though  their 
guilt  were  his  own ;  and  himself  had  been  the  transgressor ; 
and  makes  not  one  petition  for  himself  in  the  whole  pra3^er ; 
but  his  soul  is  consumed  with  desire  for  Israel,  and  the 
hoW  mountain  of  our  God.  Our  hearts  thrill  at  the  read- 
ing of  it  still.  Likewise  the  prayer  of  Moses  for  Israel  after 
their  idolatry  at  the  foot  of  Sinai  stands  almost  un- 
approachable in  its  high  unselfishness,  and  holy  zeal  for 
Jehovah's  honor,  in  the  fulfillment  of  his  promises  to  the 
people.  He  would  sooner  be  blotted  out  of  God's  book  of 
worldly  inheritance  than  see  the  promises  to  Israel  unful- 
filled. When  God  suggested  to  him  his  own  personal 
aggrandizement,  he  repelled  the  idea,  and  insisted  upon  the 
verification  of  God's  word  to  the  people. 

These  cavses  show  that  intercessory  prayer  demands  not 
only  affection;  but  the  strongest  that  the  human  breast 
ever  feels,  and  of  the  highest  and  most  unselfish  quality. 
This  affection,  occasionall3^  developed  in  the  choicest  spirits 
of  earth,  but  never  permanently  residing  in  a  human  heart, 
burst  in  the  soul  of  Jesus  from  its  unfathomable  depths, 
like  a  fountain  whose  streams  flow  with  grace  and  truth. 
Intercessions  to  earthly  kings  and  governors  have  been 
made  only  by  the  most  intimate  friends  of  the  accused, 
whom  nothing  but  the  truest  love  could  enlist. 

Judah's  application  to  the  governor  of  Egypt  for  the 
release  of  his  brother  Benjamin  can  hardly  be  i"ead  to-day 
without  tears;  and  we  do  not  wonder  that  Joseph  was  over- 
come by  it.  The  tale  of  Esther's  approach  to  Ahasuerus 
will  never  lose  its  interest  while  hearts  beat.    To  stand  be- 


456  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE. 

side  a  prisoner  and  make  his  cause  one's  own,  is  what  only 
the  most  geiuiine  and  devoted  affection  can  do.  It  is  to 
stand  between  offended  authority  and  the  criminal ;  and  is 
the  hig'hest  o;rade  of  devotion  next  to  assuming  the  cul- 
prit's place  as  his  substitute.  Who  shall  stand  thus  be- 
tween the  august  majesty  of  the  universe,  and  his  rebellious 
subjects?  In  whom  moves  there  a  love  so  deep,  so  genuine, 
so  engrossing  as  to  lead  him  to  become  an  advocate  and 
intercessor?  Only  the  being  who  would  die  for  sinners. 
Jesus  Christ  is  our  intercessor;  as  he  is  our  redeemer,  and 
substitute  before  the  violated  law. 

2.  His  intercession  began  when  man  apostatized  from 
God.  AVhen  Adam  sinned,  the  God,  that  hurled  Satan  and 
his  angels  down  to  the  pit  of  everlasting  woe  for  one  trans- 
gresssion,  must  reject  the  human  rebel  as  speedily,  and  as 
utterly.  The  same  law,  executed  upon  the  former,  demands 
the  immediate  expulsion  of  the  latter.  There  is  but  one 
law,  and  one  penalty  for  all  intelligent  creatures.  God 
"cannot  deny  himself."  This  law  is  the  expression  of 
the  uncreated  attributes  of  the  divinity  concenti-ated  into 
precept  and  penalty ;  and  it  is  as  unchangeable  as  the  eter- 
nal throne.  The  question  arose,  will  Jehovah  adhere  to 
his  position;  or  recede,  and  open  he  iven  to  the  returning 
spirits  of  the  pit?  To  refrain  from  the  punishment  of  men 
is  to  undo  his  own  work,  and  abandon  the  immutable  law, 
and  give  all  license  to  evil.  There  never  was  a  question  in 
the  heart  of  the  holy  one.  Our  first  parents  would  have 
followed  the  fallen  ,angels  quickly  to  their  doom ;  if  an  in- 
tercessor had  not  appeared  in  their  behalf.  The  heavenly 
Father  had  suffered  the  loss  of  angels ;  the  threatened  addi- 
tional loss  of  the  race  of  man  roused  an  infinite  compas- 
sion, and  led  to  an  unheard-of  effort.  Jacob  survived  the 
loss  of  Joseph ;  but  if  Benjamin  were  taken  also,  he  could 
not  endure  it,  and  live. 

The  bowels  of  everlasting  mercy  yearned  over  the  lost;  and 
an  intercessor  stepped  forth  from  the  midst  of  the  throne. 
"Spare  them,'' he  said,  "from  going  down  to  the  pit,  for  I  will 
find  a  ransom."  How  much  will  redeem  them?  Justice  an- 
swered:  Only  a  full  equivalent  for  their  eternal  peixlition  in 
hell :   I  demand  the  uttermost  farthing.    Jesus  says,  Spare 


LORD  OF  LIFE  AND  GLORY.  457 

them,  I  will  pay  it.  Justice  demands:  AVhen  and  where? 
Christ  answers:  In  the  fulness  of  time,  on  Calvary.  The 
race  of  men  were  a  unit  in  his  si^ht,  like  the  outcast  infant 
in  Ezek.  xvi:  4-5-6.  All  men  were  contained  in  Adam  as 
the  trunk,  branches,  twigs  and  leaves  are  all  in  the  one 
root.  All  humanity  was  in  Adam,  who  begat  a  son  in  his 
own  likeness;  no  longer  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  God. 
The  depraved  infant  representing  the  race  was  polluted  in 
its  blood,  contaminated  through  and  through.  "It  was  cast 
out  to  the  loathing  of  its  person;"  as  we  would  cast 
out  contagion  or  pestilence.  God  loathed  it ;  heaven  loathed 
it;  "none  eye  pitied  it."  To  regret  the  fall  of  man  was  allow- 
able ;  but  to  pity  seemed  like  taking  sides  with  evil ;  we 
love  at  length  those  whom  we  pity;  our  hearts  warm  to 
them.    This  outcast  babe  was  perishing  without  hope. 

The  last  quarter  from  which  to  look  for  relief  was  the 
throne  of  immaculate  purity.  Yet  in  the  very  bosom  of 
the  trinity  an  intercessor  for  man  was  found.  He  who 
would  listen  to  no  interference  in  behalf  of  angels  who 
sinned  in  their  own  persons,  heard  intercession  for  men 
who  sinned  in  their  progenitor.  "Yea  I  said,  unto  thee 
live."  The  emphasis  is  on  the  pronoun  "I."  The  suffering 
that  would  atone  for  the  sin  of  Adam  would  avail  for  the 
race:  and  it  required  all  the  accumulated  anguish  of  the 
son  of  God  to  redeem  one  sinner.  It  does  not  appear  that 
for  the  forgiveness  of  additional  crimes,  a  proportional  in- 
crease of  atoning  sufferings  would  be  demanded ;  but  that 
which  would  satisfy  the  demands  of  justice  for  the  one 
deliberate,  intelhgent  apostasy  of  Adam,  would  avail  for 
all  the  sins,  which  have  sprung  from  it  as  a  death-produc- 
ing seed.  And  no  less  suffering  would  have  been  required 
in  order  to  the  liberation  of  a  single  transgressor. 

Our  Lord  is  called  the  "Counsellor"  because  the  offering 
of  himself  as  the  atoning  sacrifice  for  human  sin,  deter- 
mined the  action  of  the  trinity  in  the  case:  and  his  coun- 
sel prevailed.  The  result  will  be,  that  no  future  race  of 
creatures  will  ever  lapse  into  rebellion  The  mighty  sacri- 
fice, revealing  as  it  does  the  inmost  heart  of  God,  will  fur- 
nish motives  that  shall  prevent  the  further  incursion  of  sin. 


458  VICTOR  OVER   DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE. 

3.  The  scriptures  describe  liirn  as  possessed  of  the  most 
exquisite  syin])athy  with  his  people,  and  love  for  sinners. 
No  fuller  and  more  tender  sympathy  can  be  described  or 
conceived  than  is  contained  in  the  words:  ''Inasmuch  as 
ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren, 
ye  have  done  it  unto  me:"  taken  as  the  unexa^g-erated  state- 
ment of  a  sympathy,  the  reality  of  which  will  yet,  when 
fully  revealed,  astonish  the  universe,  and  lead  friends  and 
enemies  to  say:  "Lord,  when  saw  we  thee  an  hungered  and 
fed  thee?  or  ministered  not  unto  thee?''  Not  more  in- 
fallibly does  the  brain  receive  the  impression  of  i^ain  when 
one  member  of  the  body  suffers,  than  our  Lord  does  when 
the  least  of  these  his  brethern  is  grieved  oi*  wounded  for 
his  sake.  The  Jewish  high  priest  carrying  the  names  of 
the  tribes  engraven  on  his  heart-plate  when  he  appeared 
before  God  is  no  hyperbole:  Jesus  Christ  has  the  names  of 
his  people  engraven  on  his  heart. 

4.  His  intercession  is  conducted  now  by  his  appearing  in 
our  nature  in  heaven.  In  Rev.  viii:  4,  a  priest  is  presented 
to  our  view  standing  at  the  altar  of  incense,  having  in  his 
hand  a  censer  with  burning  coals,  and  offering  up  the 
prayers  of  saints  with  much  incense.  He  is  called  indeed 
an  angel;  but  he  is  our  great  high-priest  making  our 
prayers  his  own,  and  sanctioning  them  by  his  own  amen. 
They  are  immediately  answered  of  course  in  the  destruction 
of  pagan  Rome  by  the  sounding  of  the  seven  trumpets. 

\Ve  have  two  intercessors.  "The  spirit  our  petition 
writes,  and  Christ  %  receives  and  hands  it  in!"  The  descrip- 
tion of  his  appearance  in  Rev.  I,  as  John  beheld  him,  agrees 
to  the  ap]3earan(?e  of  a  priest,  in  that  he  was  girt  about 
the  paps.  All  others  were  girt  about  the  loins;  priests 
about  the  paps,  and  with  a  golden  girdle.  In  the  girdle  of 
the  high  priest  the  threads  of  gold  were  so  conspicuous  as 
to  make  the  girdle  appear  to  be  of  gold  entirely.  The 
wearing  of  an  e])hod  is  implied,  without  which  the  girdle 
could  not  retain  its  place.  He  is  thus  our  great  high  priest 
passed  into  the  holy  of  holies.  There  he  really  performs 
what  was  typified  in  the  symbolic  acts  of  the  Jewish  high 
priest  in  the  earthly  temple. 


LORD  OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  459 

In  the  oro-anization  of  the  nation  in  the  wildei'ness,  no 
king  was  anointed ;  the  high  pi'iest  was  the  chief 
official;  and  no  otlier  liead  or  director  was  contem- 
plated ;  nor  would  have  ever  been  required,  had  the  incum- 
bents of  this  high  office  been  men  of  the  right  stamp  and 
character.  The  office  required  a  man  whose  ver^^  counte- 
nance shone  with  ''holiness  to  the  Lord,"  while  his  heart 
beat  with  the  strongest  sympathy  with  Israel,  whose  names 
glittered  on  the  jewels  upon  his  breast.  The  great  work 
which  he  illustrated  was  to  be  performed  on  earth  so  far 
as  the  blood-shedding  and  the  offering  were  concerned ;  but 
the  presentation  of  the  blood,  and  the  completion  of  the 
work  was  consummated  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most 
High,  behind  the  veil,  where  mortal  could  not  enter  save 
the  anointed  Son  of  God. 

The  only  real  priest  that  has  ever  been,  is  Jesus  Christ: 
the  only  real  holy  of  holies  is  heaven ;  instead  of  the  pillar 
of  cloud,  which  became  a  pillar  of  fire  when  the  blood  was 
sprinkled  upon  the  mercy  seat,  was  the  visible  presence  of 
God  shining  with  mercy  and  favor  upon  the  offerer,  and 
those  represented  by  him  ;  instead  of  the  ark  and  its  cover, 
the  mercy  seat  was  the  throne  of  God,  whose  foundation 
is  the  changeless  law. 

The  same  truth  is  taught  by  what  was  shown  to  John 
when  he  was  permitted  to  look  into  heaven.  He  saw  there 
the  throne  of  God  with  no  visible  appearance  of  the  first 
and  third  persons  whose  spiritual  essence  is  not  within  the 
reach  of  our  senses.  The  only  visible  occupant  of  the  un- 
created throne  was  a  lamb  as  it  had  been  slain  i.  e.  living 
but  with  the  marks  of  slaughter  upon  it.  Him  whom  Isaiah 
and  Ezekiel  and  Stephen  saw  in  human  form,  John  beheld 
as  a  lamb,  that  had  been  slain.  The  glorified  body  of 
Christ,  with  the  marks  of  his  atoning  sufferings,  occupies 
the  seat  of  glory  and  of  power,  and  bears  the  uncreated 
majesty  in  his  person.  He  is  still  "clothed  in  a  vesture 
stained  with  blood."  The  memory  of  his  sufferings  will 
never  become  less  affecting.  Angels  who  saw  this  earth 
prepared  for  human  abode  by  the  wonders  of  omnipotence, 
never  saw  anything  more  astounding  than  the  passion  of 
the  Savior.    To  eternitv  the  memorv  of  it  shall  not  fail. 


460  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH    AND   THE   GRAVE. 

This  presence  of  the  humanity  wounded  for  us  is  a  con- 
tinual intercession :  it  is  equivalent  to  a  continual  presen- 
tation of  the  blood.  It  is  well  compared  to  the  Greek 
EschA'lus  holding-  up  the  stump  of  an  arm  lost  in  battle 
for  his  country,  as  a  silent  plea  before  the  court,  which 
had  condemned  his  brother.    No  words  were  necessary. 

There  is  a  mute  eloquence  in  the  unhealed  wounds,  sur- 
passing all  the  force  of  words.  "Blessing  and  honor  and 
glorj^  and  power''  were  his  of  right:  but  they  are  ascribed 
to  him  with  a  zeal  and  fervor  before  unknown.  He  sat 
upon  the  eternal  throne  before:  now  he  sits  upon  a 
throne  of  hearts,  the  king  of  hearts,  the  love  wonder  of 
heaven,  binding  the  universe  to  himself  with  stronger  ties 
than  bonds  of  force. 

5.  His  intercession  is  for  the  same  great  objects,  for 
which  he  supplicated  Avhile  he  was  on  ea.rth.  Men  are  con- 
tinued in  life,  and  enjoy  gospel  privileges  and  divine  cultiva- 
tion in  answer  to  his  pleading.  The  request  of  the  vine- 
dresser in  favor  of  the  barren  fig-tree  is  in  point.  God 
takes  up  the  axe  in  order  to  cut  it  down,  he  draws  the 
sword,  wearied  with  its  failure  to  respond  to  the  merciful 
treatment  leceived;  but  something  in  the  very  bosom  of 
deity  says.  "Spare  it  another  year,"  for  increased  cultiva- 
tion and  prolonged  care.  It  is  the  voice  of  a  Savior's  in- 
tercession: and  the  axe  is  laid  down,  the  sword  is  sheathed. 
His  tears  wept  over  Jerusalem  secured  to  the  guilty  city 
a  respite  of  judgment  for  forty  years,  and  delayed  its  de- 
struction until  the^  hundred  and  forty-four  thousand  were 
sealed  in  their  foreheads  with  the  seal  of  the  living  God. 
When  he  was  in  the  hands  of  his  murderers,  and  their  in- 
sults reached  their  supreme  climax,  his  pity  like  the  waters 
of  the  deluge  rose  higher  than  the  tops  of  the  mountains 
and  overtopped  their  sins;  and  he  interceded  for  them  on 
his  cross:  "Father  forgive  them,  they  know  not  what  they 
do."  These  are  instances  of  his  interceding  work  while  on 
earth,  and  he  is  the  same  Jesus  still;  for  the  same  things 
he  still  expresses  his  desire;  and  heaven  bows  to  his  wish. 
We  know  not  how  often  God,  provoked  by  our  unfruitful- 
ness,  wearied  by  our  sins,  has  grasped  the  sword  of  judg- 
ment to  cut  men  off   from  their    abused  opportunities  and 


LORD  OF  LIFE   AND   CiLORY.  461 

their  slighted  privileges;  and  the  voice  of  pleading  mercy 
has  caused  him  to  desist  and  defer  bis  anger.  He  pities 
men's  souls  more  than  they  themselves  do. 

He  asks  for  his  people,  that  they  may  be  kept  from 
apostasy.  He  said  to  his  sleeping  and  treacherous  Peter: 
"Satan  hath  desired  to  have  you  (plural),  that  he  might 
sift  you  (plural)  as  wheat;  but  I  have  prayed  for  thee 
that  thy  faith  fail  not."  So  keenly  he  watches  every  dis- 
ciple, and  will  not  let  him  go.  "He  is  able  to  save  them 
to  the  uttermost''  i.  e.,  in  spite  of  the  perversen(^s  of  their 
natures,  out  of  the  hand  of  every  enemy,  out  of  the  midst 
of  every  difficulty  and  opposition  to  the  uttermost ;  ' '  be- 
cause he  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them."  Their 
faith  shall  not  fail,  sins  shall  not  prevail  against  them, 
temptation  shall  not  seduce  them,  he  will  not  suffer  them 
to  be  tempted  beyond  what  they  are  able  to  bear;  but 
will  with  the  temptation  open  a  way  of  escape;  "because 
he  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them." 

It  is  not  our  hold  on  him  that  saves  us ;  but  his  hold  on 
us  ;  "none  is  able  to  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand"  not  "no 
man"  as  the  A.  V.  reads,  but  no  power,  no  adversary  what- 
ever. What  he  undertakes  he  will  complete,  "because  he 
ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us."  He  foresaw  every 
obstacle  and  difficult3''  in  the  way  of  the  salvation  of  everj'^ 
believer  before  he  undertook  the  work  of  his  deliverance; 
nothing  unlooked  for  and  surprising  can  occur  to  defeat 
his  intent.  He  is  watching  every  step  of  progress;  and 
though  we  sleep  when  we  should  be  praying,  though  we 
believe  not,  yet  he  abideth  faithful;  he  cannot  deny  him- 
self. He  can  leave  them  in  the  world,  and  keep  them  from 
the  evil ;  not  from  its  afflictions  and  sorrows  and  trials : 
but  from  the  contamination  of  its  sins. 

He  is  interceding  also  for  his  church,  the  onl}^  heaven- 
organized  society  in  the  world,  and  his  own  kingdom  on 
earth.  As  on  a  certain  night  from  the  mountain's  height, 
he  was  watching  the  ship  that  carried  his  followers, 
through  the  wind  and  storm  of  the  lake;  so  his  attention 
is  still  fixed  upon  his  church  from  the  heights  of  glory. 
How  he  prayed  in  his  solemn  farewell  prayer,  for  his  dis- 
ciples, that  his  people  might  glorify  God  by  bringing  forth 


462  VICTOR    OVER   DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE. 

nuieh  fruit;  that  they  might  love  one  another,  till  the 
woi-ld  take  knowledge  of  them  that  they  had  been  with 
Jesus;  that  they  all  might  be  one  ilook  under  one  shepherd; 
and  finally  that  those  whom  God  had  given  him  might  be 
with  him  where  he  is,  to  behold  his  glory. 

Undoubtedly  the  same  objects  are  upon  his  heart  still,  and 
nothing  is  to  him  more  important  than  the  advance  of  his 
church.  In  answer  to  her  prayer  offered  up  by  him  before 
the  throne,  the  heathen  will  be  given  to  him  for  an  inheri- 
tance and^the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  a  posses- 
sion: his  kingdom  shall  "come"  over  all  the  earth,  to 
the  utter  downfall  of  the  kingdom  of  Satan  and  destruc- 
tion of  the  powers  of  evil.  The  second  creation  will  be 
infinitely  grander  and  more  glorious  than  the  first;  when 
the  word  of  God  shall  "make  all  things  new." 

6.  His  intercession  is  based  on  his  atonement.  He 
would  never  have  opened  his  lips  in  our  behalf,  unless  he 
had  first  paid  our  debt  to  divine  justice.  To  plead  for 
transgressors  without  atonement,  is  to  shield  them  and 
their  sin,  which  Christ  could  never  do.  He  intercedes  as 
"a  lamb  that  had  been  slain,"  as  a  priest  having  blood  to 
offer.  In  the  temple  on  earth  the  lamb  and  the  blood  were 
the  conspicuous  and  ever  present  objects;  equally  promi- 
nent on  high  is  the  "Lamb"  able  to  obtain  blessings  for 
us;  because  he  has  died.  Not  more  ready  is  he  to  ask, 
than  God  to  bestow.  As  we  anticipate  the  wishes  of  one 
whom  we  delight  to  lionoi%  so  heaven  labors  to  honor  the 
Son  of  God.    He  has  died  and  therefore  is  worthy. 

His  name  opens  all  the  treasures  of  grace.  If  a  poor, 
ragged,  squalid  tatterdemallion  were  to  present  himself  at 
the  counter  of  a  bank,  and  call  for  unbounded  sums  of 
money,  though  bystanders  might  despise  him,  yet  could  he 
throw  down  an  order  with  the  name  of  an  Astor  or  a  Van- 
derbilt,  it  would  at  once  unlock  the  otherwise  inaccessible 
vaults,  and  bring  him  his  desire.  The  name  of  Christ  is 
good  on  high  for  all  that  we  can  ask.  His  prayer  on  earth 
always  prevailed ;  how  much  more  now  that  he  is  the  one 
whom  God  delights  to  honor.  Christians,  it  is  not  your 
prayers  that  have  prevailed :  it  is  Christ's.    Men  wondered 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   OLORY.  4(33 

at  the  conversion  of  three  thousand  on  the  day  of  Pente- 
cost:  Christ  had  prayed,  ''Father,  forgive  them." 

He  is  our  only  intercessor.  Prior  to  his  interference  for 
man,  there  was  no  eye  to  pity,  no  arm  to  save,  and  no 
voice  to  speak  for  him.  Consternation  had  seized  on  all 
the  ranks  of  angelic  beings.  Sinless  as  they  are,  they  fear 
and  tremble  before  the  holy  Jehovah:  and  in  view  of  that 
purity  which  surpasses  all  conception,  which  no  comparison 
can  match,  no  words  describe,  no  created  mind  fathom, 
they  eternally  wonder  and  cry,  holy,  hol^-,  holy.  Lost  in 
the  blaze  and  oppressed  by  the  intensity  of  incommunicable 
holiness,  they  are  ever  beholding  new  splendors  and  vol- 
umes of  more  effulgent  glory  breaking  from  the  uncreated 
throne,  and  shooting  their  healing  beams  over  the  blissful 
plains  of  heaven.  New  worlds  springing  into  being  before 
their  eyes  could  hardly  divert  for  a  time  their  attention 
from  him,  the  view  of  whom  arouses  all  the  varied  affec- 
tions of  their  nature  to  the  highest  degree.  Even  in  his 
mercy  he  is  terrible,  as  the  trembling  penitent  well  knows. 
If  he  is  thus  fearful  even  in  his  love,  "who  can  stand  be- 
fore this  holy  Lord  God"  who  knows  not  to  forgive  in  the 
sense  in  which  men  pardon,  without  atonement?  Who 
would  dare  interfere  to  the  dishonor  of  his  law?  Who  meet 
that  withering  frown  which  is  the  hell  of  hells? 

There  was  but  one  being,  who  could  restore  what  had 
been  taken  away.  No  other  than  he  could  venture  a  word 
in  our  behalf.  He  who  said,  "spare  them  from  going  down 
to  the  pit,  for  I  have  found  a  ransom,"  is  our  only  advo- 
cate always,  as  he  then  stood  alone  our  friend.  Accursed 
be  the  thought,  that  any  other  can  bear  the  smallest  part 
with  him  in  this  high  office.  As  his  blood  alone  can  atone, 
and  he  stands  alone  as  our  sacrifice;  so  he  stands  equally 
alone  as  our  advocate.  He  pleads  for  sinners,  for  whom 
the  most  tender-hearted  saint  could  not  open  the  lips  in 
supplication.  There  was  a  period  when  Moses,  the  highest 
example  of  a  loving  intercessor  for  Israel  when  on  earth, 
became  their  accuser,  and  made  intercession  against  them; 
while  Jesus,  infinitely  more  forbearing  and  long-suffering, 
could  pray:  "Father  forgive  them,  they  know  not  Avhat 
they  do."  Stand  aside,  saints  and  apostles,  and  miscalled 
holy  virgin.  When  you  could  only  be  dumb;  Jesus  will 
intercede. 


464  VICTOR  OVER  DEATH  AND  THE   GRAVE. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 


THE  MIRACLES, 


The  possibility  of  miracles  will  never  be  denied  except  by 
those  who  doubt  the  existence  of  a  living  personal  God:  that 
they  have  actually  occurred,  all  who  receive  the  Bible  as 
the  inspired  word,  cannot  fail  to  acknowledge.  The  Bible 
is  the  book  of  the  supernatural:  its  first  verse  is  the 
record  of  a  miracle:  its  first  chapter,  of  a  succession  of 
them,  works  of  a  divine  magnitude;  recorded  also  in  the 
stone  book  of  geology,  preparing  this  earth  for  the  intro- 
duct  on  of  man.  The  sea  brought  forth  its  occupants  in 
shoals;  the  earth  brought  forth  animals  of  every  kind  in 
droves.  Inanimate  nature  was  their  mother;  and  her 
womb  produced  them  at  the  divine  command;  but  God 
with  deliberate  counsel  came  down,  and  organized  dust  and 
water  into  man ;  forming  but  one,  the  image  of  himself 
here  below,  a  ruler  of  the  inferior  tribes,  the  head  of  a 
race  yet  to  be. 

Hiri  fearful  and  wonderful  body  surpassed  in  its  mechan- 
ism all  that  had  been  previously  made;  and  is  the  most 
astonishing  of  the  known  material  works  of  God.  Secrets 
of  its  constructiop  are  being  detected  in  every  age;  but 
greater  secrets  ]:)erhaps  remain  undiscovered.  Into  this 
body,  the  master-piece  of  all  his  works,  he  breathed  a  liv- 
ing i.  e.  a  deathless  spirit,  a  miniature  of  his  own  divinity. 
The  bodies  of  men  were  the  subjects  of  the  miracles  of 
Christ:  and  that  their  maker  should  have  absolute  and 
unlimited  control  to  produce  changes  in  them  at  his  pleas- 
ure, by  the  mere  exercise  of  his  will,  needs  no  elucidation. 

A  miracle  is  a  direct  act  of  God,  operating  without  the 
intervention  of  second  causes;  and  to  deny  the  possibility 
of  its  occurrence,  is  to  deny  the  divine  immanence  in  his 
creation,   and    his    all-pervasive   energy.    What    are  called 


LORD  OF  LIFE  AND   GLORY.  405 

laws  of  na.ture,  are  but  modes  in  which  this  energ}^  acts. 
The  power  exhibited  in  the  works  of  Christ  is  this  same 
•creative,  all-sustaining-,  everywhere-operative  power.  The 
appearance  of  such  a  being  moving  among  men,  was  the 
greatest  miracle  of  the  ages. 

The  mighty  works  of  the  old  dispensation  were  not  nu- 
merous. God  has  never  been  prodigal  of  them:  they  were 
the  common  every-day  acts  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  Thej^  were 
his  ordinary  works,  foi'  which  no  preparation  on  his  part 
was  needed ;  and  which  were  attended  by  no  disturbance  of 
his  common  life,  either  by  exaltation  or  depression.  They 
thus  designate  the  most  important  epoch  in  the  world's 
histor3';  as  well  as  fix  attention  upon  the  immaculate  be- 
ing, to  whom  the  performance  of  the  mightiest  wonder  was 
as  natural  and  as  easy  as  breathing  is  to  us,  and  required 
no  more  effort.  Not  even  the  speaking  of  a  word  by  him 
was  required  to  accomplish  the  works  effected  by  the  dis- 
ciples by  the  use  of  his  name;  nor  was  his  personal  pres- 
ence necessary :  simply  his  will. 

The  account,  given  by  the  evangelists  of  the  miracles  of 
their  master,  is  itself  proof  of  their  actual  occurrence.  In- 
ventors and  romancers  would  have  given  to  the  wonderful 
works  undue  prominence;  and  would  have  embellished  their 
histories  with  the  most  florid  descriptions  of  them.  Human 
curiosity  naturally  fastens  on  such  incidents;  and  exagge- 
rates their  importance.  The  attention  of  the  reader  would 
have  been  directed  to  the  strikingly  forceful  or  pathetic  as- 
pects of  the  cases,  which  indeed  can  never  be  exceeded ;  no 
circumstance  would  have  been  overlooked,  which  could  add 
to  the  impression  of  the  magnitude  and  importance  of  the 
work  effected. 

In  the  gospel  histories,  on  the  contrary,  ever^^  particular 
is  suppressed,  that  can  be  spared  from  the  narrative:  and 
the  bare  facts  are  related  without  sensational  details. 

It  is  very  plain  that  some  of  his  mightiest  works  have 
not  been  duly  appreciated  to  the  present  day;  nor  their 
greatness  understood:  so  wonderfully  have  the  writers  ab- 
stained from  description.  They  have  adopted  the  master's 
estimate  of  the  works,  as  secondary  and  subservient  to  the 
iorthcoming  truth.  When  it  is  remembered,  what  an  im- 
—30 


466  VICTOK   OVEIJ    DEATH   AND    THE   CiRAVE. 

meiise  field  was  open  for  description,  it  is  impossible  not 
to  be  amazed  at  the  style  adopted  by  the  evangelists, 
omitting  every  opportunity  of  magnifyinti-  the  indescribable 
wonders  of  the  ministry.  Their  very  style  is  evidence  of 
the  veracity  of  the  men,  and  the  actual  occurrence  of  the 
facts.  It  is  well  to  be  reminded  that  society  in  those  days 
was  under  a  perfect  cloud  of  superstition.  No  greater 
knowledge  of  natural  laws  existed,  than  is  found  among 
the  American  Indians,  or  the  African  savages  of  to-day. 
Every  one  believed  in  the  supernatural;  but  the  super- 
natural powers  were  maligimnt  in  their  operation.  The 
works  of  Jesus  were  in  perfect  contrast,  a  display  of  divine 
tenderness  and  almighty  healing  virtue. 

That  the  gospel  miracles  were  wrought  as  related,  the 
world  will  ever  believe  on  the  testimony  of  the  twelve 
apostles,  who  were  witnesses  chosen  of  God  for  the  purpose 
of  certifying  to  all  ages  the  acknowledged  facts.  These 
men  were  competent;  as  they  had  enjoyed  all  possible 
opportunity  of  sight,  of  hearing,  of  handling.  They  had 
been  for  two,  and  some  of  them  for  three  years  intimates 
and  bosom  friends  of  the  Nazarene;  and  were  observing 
for  all  time  and  all  men.  Three  of  them  had  entered  the 
holy  of  holies  on  the  mountain  top:  (for  it  is  the  pres- 
ence of  Jehovah,  which  makes  the  holy  of  holies):  their 
ej^es  had  beheld  the  shechinah  cloud;  and  their  ears  had 
heard  the  voice  that  once  spoke  fi-om  the  mount  of  fire. 
Nothing  had  been  withheld  from  their  scrutiny.  Peter,  who 
was  one  of  them^  says  when  speaking  of  it:  "We  have  a 
more  sure  word  oi  prophecy,  to  which  ye  do  well  to  take 
heed,  as  to  a  light  shining  in  a  dark  place.''  The  word  is 
a  standing  light,  a  more  sure  evidence  than  the  most  strik- 
ing miracles. 

They  were  the  most  reliable  witnesses,  that  ever  testified 
Was  he,  through  whose  lips  the  judgment  was  denounced, 
which  sent  Ananias  and  Sapphira  to  an  instant  hell,  him- 
self a  greater  liar  in  his  testimony  to  Jesus? 

The  apostle  James  another  witness  was  a  man  so  just. 
that  Josephus  even  mused ;  whether  the  terrible  overthrow 
of  Jerusalem  were  not  a  retribution  to  the  city  for  his 
death. 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  467 

The  apostle  Judas  confirmed  the  testimony  in  the  most 
emphatic  declaration  of  all;  a  testimony  extorted  by  the 
pains  of  premature  torment,  and  sealed  by  suicide.  The 
agreement  of  all  is  solid  and  perfect.  They  all  witli  one 
exception  sealed  their  testimony  with  their  blood.  Their 
testimony  is  not  the  testimony  of  men  merely — it  is  testi- 
mony of  the  Most  Hio'h:  "God  also  bearing  them  witness 
both  with  signs  and  wonders,  and  with  divers  miracles, 
and  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  according  to  his  own  will." 
The  miracles  were  then  wrought  exactly  as  related  by  the 
evangelists,  who  understate  rather  than  exaggerate,  and 
relate  without  the  slightest  tinge  of  human  coloring. 

This  is  confirmed  incontrovertibly  by  the  opposition  of 
the  Jewish  rulers  against  the  Nazarene.  This  opposition 
was  begotten  wholly  by  the  miracles.  Without  the  back- 
ing of  the  mighty  works,  our  Lord  would  have  been 
quite  contemptible;  as  coming  from  the  lowest  ranks  of 
society,  and  being  a  miserable  Nazarene,  unsustained  by 
worldly  influence,  or  party  following.  The  leaders  would 
have  utterly  ignored  him,  by  any  public  recognition;  as 
they  long  followed  him  by  spies,  before  public  notice  was 
taken.  His  miracles  were  the  stamp  of  heaven  accrediting 
him.  The  benevolence  and  glory  of  his  works  touched  the 
heart  of  the  nation;  wiped  the  tears  from  many  a  weeping- 
eye;  sent  joy  and  gladness  into  many  a  desolate  family; 
and  forced  attention  to  him.  When  all  eyes  became  riveted 
upon  him;  and  his  teachings,  universally  reported,  began 
to  touch  the  tender  spot  of  their  formalism;  investigation 
by  the  rulers  could  no  longer  be  refused.  His  great  and 
ever-increasing  prestige  compelled  attention. 

His  miracles  fought  their  way  to  the  most  full  and  per- 
fect recognition  by  his  most  violent  enemies.  At  first  they 
passed  unnoticed  by  the  Sanhedrin:  until  it  was  no  longer 
possible  to  ignore  them.  Then  they  were  sneeringly  at- 
tributed to  the  aid  of  Belzebub;  at  last  they  were  subjected 
to  the  most  rigid  and  hostile  examination;  and  reluctantly 
admitted  to  be  genuine  miracles:  but  such  as  proved  him 
to  be  "not  of  God;"  though  confessedly  the  works  were 
divine;  for  they  said  to  the  man  born  blind:  "Give  God 
the  praise,"  admitting  that  this  was  the  finger  of  God. 


46»  VICTOR   OVER  DEATH  AND  THE   GRAVE. 

Wi'ouo-ht  as  his  works  were  upon  the  best  known  individ- 
uals of  the  day,  and  under  the  very  eyes  of  the  opposers; 
the  facts  were  undeniable:  but  they  proved  too  much. 
They  not  only  set  the  great  seal  of  heaven  upon  his  mis- 
sion: but  they  proved  his  divine  personahty.  The  voice  at 
tiie  Jordan  did  not  more  distinctly  assert  it.  The  ever- 
lasting Father  himself  never  did  an  act  more  divineh'  than 
did  the  Xazarene.  P]very  miracle  threw  his  enemies  into 
spasms,  because  it  was  an  authoritative  declaration  of  his 
real  standing:  against  those  the  fury  of  the  opposition 
flung  itself.  The  history  shows  that  each  successive  mighty 
work  added  incalculably  to  the  mad  opposition  of  the 
enemies. 

Every  attack  made  upon  him  was  directed  against  the 
miracles.  The  first  exhibition  of  murderous  rancor  took 
place  as  the  result  of  the  Bethesda  miracle,  when  they 
made,  not  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath,  but  the  violation 
of  their  tradition,  a  capital  offence.  At  Bethsaida,  where 
he  fed  a  multitude  with  five  loaves  and  two  fishes  the 
falling  away  of  the  people  commenced,  and  spread;  until  he 
asked  the  twelve:  "Will  ye  also  go  away:"  so  strong  was 
the  ebb-tide  of  his  followers.  His  giving  eyes  to  the  man 
born  blind  greatly  imfiamed  the  resentment  of  his  enemies, 
who  had  already  resolved  to  excommunicate  any  who 
might  confess  him.  The  unspeakable  benefit  to  the  unfor- 
tunate man  did  not  enter  into  their  thoughts,  neither 
could  they  charge  that  the  Sabbath  had  been  broken  in 
the  least;  yet  their  opposition  was  redoubled  in  consequence 
of  the  "good  work."  The  raising  of  Lazarus  from  the  tomb 
led  those  same  men  to  take  immediate  and  vigorous  mess- 
ures  against  the  miracle-worker  and  agninst  Lazarus  also: 
though  it  were  impossible  to  devise  a  charge  of  wrong  with 
all  their  ingenuity.  It  was  the  overwhelmingly  glorious 
and  divine  work"  that  angered  them.  Every  accusation 
formulated  against  him  was  provoked  by  some  miracle: 
that  of  Sabbath  breaking,  of  being  in  league  with  Beelzebub, 
of  stirring  u])  the  people.  It  is  impossible  to  account  for 
the  opposition,  the  rejection,  the  death;  without  admit- 
ting the  miracles  as  the  operative  cause.  Tlie  key  of  the 
whole   bii^toiv  is    the    undeniable    occurrence    of   the  most 


LORD   OF   LIFE    AND   GLORY.  469 

striking,  most  benevolent  and  loving-  miracles,  whose  actual 
happening  his  enemies  acknowledged  when  plotting  his 
capture,  and  even  while  he  was  dying  on  the  cross,  confess- 
ing: '"he  saved  others;  himself  he  cannot  save." 

Above  all,  the  great  miracle  of  the  resurrection  from  the 
dead,  in  the  face  of  the  combined  powers  of  the  day,  dem- 
onstrates the  verity  of  all  the  foregoing  wonders,  as  related ; 
and  remains  to  all  time  the  sign  and  confirmation  of  his 
truth,  being  so  established  by  the  master  himslf.  No  event 
of  history  is  sustained  by  evidence  so  ungainsayable ;  and 
the  admission  of  the  truth  of  the  account  carries  with  it 
the  acknowledgment  of  all  the  previous  wonders.  It  was 
the  "sign"  given  to  the  world,  the  attestation  of  heaven, 
the  great  seal  of  Jehovah  himself.  But  what  denial,  what 
rage  did  it  excite!  It  became  the  focus  of  all  the  opposi- 
tion ;  even  from  the  men,  who  knew  that  it  really  occurred 
just  as  well  as  the  soldiers  did,  who  saw  the  eyes  of  light- 
ning, and  beheld  the  stone  rolled  away.  These  rulers  were 
the  men  whose  eyes  explored  the  sepulchre,  and  saw  that 
the  body  was  there;  and  whose  hands  sealed  the  stone 
with  the  great  seal  of  state;  and  who  gave  their  orders  to  the 
guard.  Instead  of  being  subdued  by  the  fact,  they  were 
rather  bereft  of  reason  by  it;  and  confirmed  in  insane  op- 
position. The  real  occurrence  of  all  the  wonders  of  the  life 
is  substantiated  by  this  opposition,  only  to  be  accounted 
for  by  the  facts  that  produced  it. 

The  works  of  the  Savior,  unlike  those  of  the  old  dispen- 
sation, were  none  of  them  destructive;  but  all  were  works 
of  sympathy  and  aid  to  suffering  humanity :  the  fate  of 
the  Gadarene  swine,  and  the  withering  of  the  barren  fig 
tree  forming  no  exceptions.  Thej^  loudly  proclaim  that  there 
is  sympathy  in  heaven  for  the  needy  and  unfortunate. 
When  our  Lord  was  importuned  and  challenged  to  show, 
as  a  sign  of  his  power,  some  prodigy  or  portent  from  the 
sky,  he  declined  all  demonstration  except  that  of  succor 
to  the  afflicted.  It  was  impossible  to  move  him  from  the 
course  prescribed.  A  restriction  was  upon  him :  works  were 
given  liim  to  do  which  had  in  them  no  ostentation.  A 
hidden  danger  lay  in  the  repetition  of  any  of  the  old  time 
signs  from  heaven.    The  nation  was  awaiting  a  sign;   and 


470  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH   AND   THE    GRAVE. 

was  williuo-  to  leap  to  arms  on  the  signal  given.  Rome 
never,  in  all  her  wars,  undertook  a  more  desperate  task, 
than  when  she  entered  into  conflict  with  them.  No  nation 
was  ever  so  unanimous,  none  so  confident,  none  so  fierce. 
They  could  be  scattered  and  driven  out;  but  they  could 
never  be  conquered.  They  were  read}'  as  the  tinder  for 
the  spark,  waiting-  with  a  smothered  eagerness  for  the 
coming  sifrn. 

In  the  midst  of  this  subterranean  ferment,  when  questions 
of  the  gravest  import  were  agitating  the  Hebrew  mind, 
our  Lord  exercised  his  ministry :  and  though  things  were 
calm  during  that  short  period:  a  time  of  ungoA'ernable 
turbulence  ensued,  beginning  with  his  death,  when  the  na- 
tion went  wild  with  disappointment,  and  became  demoral- 
ized beyond  control.  The  world  is  lost  in  admiration  of 
the  consummate  prudence  of  his  whole  career. 

His  might}'  works  were  noiseless.  The  most  unworldly 
character,  a  man  of  another  world,  passed  before  the  ej'es 
of  the  people:  the  most  unworldly  teachings  saluted  their 
ears:  all  worldly  themes  and  interests  being  overshadowed 
and  dwarfed,  in  the  preponderance  of  eternal  realities  and 
spiritual  obligations.  His  discourses  had  in  them  no  inti- 
mation of  coming  deliverance  from  the  oppression  of  Rome; 
but  dark  foreshadowings  of  the  destruction  of  their  city 
and  temple.  He  was  utterly  unlike  all  the  heroes  of  the 
past,  a  perfect  contrast  to  the  models  of  the  older  times: 
incapable  of  resentment,  suffering  wrongfully  without  a 
murmur;  when  re^;iled,  regaling  not  again;  when  suffering, 
thi-eatening  not;  unaffected  by  scorn;  unsusceptible  of  any 
harshness  of  feeling  to  an  enemy ;  but  full  of  tenderness 
and  love  and  help  to  the  afflicted  and  enemies  as  well. 
.  Nevertheless  the  works  of  Jesus  CA'actly  suit  the  descrip- 
tion by  Isaiah  quoted  by  him  in  the  syagogue  of  Nazareth: 
"The  Lord  hath  anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings  to 
the  poor;  to  heal  the  bi'oken-hearted ;  to  proclaim  the 
Jul)i!e('  to  the  captives;  the  recovering  of  sight  to  the 
blind;  to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised."  He  fol- 
lowed out  the  programme  to  the  letter. 

Let  attention  be  fixed  upon  his  works.    In  many  cases 
no  mention  is  made  of  the  ailments  which  he  relieved:   but 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND    GLORY.  471 

where  named,  the^^  are  paralysis,  leprosy,  pals.y,  consump- 
tion by  an  incurable  issue  of  blood,  blindness,  congenital 
blindness,  deaf  and  dumbness,  possession  by  devils,  and 
death.  Loss  of  limbs  is  also  named  among  ills  relieved:  the 
word  "maimed"  havingthis  meaning;  halt  and  maimed  being- 
put  in  apposition  with  having  two  hands  or  two  feet  Mk.  ix: 
43.  The  one-legged  and  one-armed  were  ,"the  maimed;" 
all  the  affections  named  are  irremediable  calamities.  The 
sufferers  indulged  no  hope  of  deliverance:  not  one  ray  of 
expectation  cheered  them.  To  speak  to  them  of  recovery 
were  a  bitter  mockery.  The  saying  of  the  man  born  blind 
■expressed  the  feeling  of  all:  "since  the  world  began  was  it 
never  heard;  that  one  opened  the  eyes  of  a  man  born 
blind.''  Hope  had  bidden  them  an  everlasting  farewell. 
For  them  to  think  of  an  escape  from  their  condition  of 
privation  or  suffering  were  the  wildest  insanity ;  to  indulge 
the  expectation  were  to  rebel  against  inexorable  fate. 
The  cures  effected  by  the  Savior  were  every  one  of  them 
a.s  remarkable  as  would  have  been  resurrections  from  the 
dead. 

In  such  cases  to  apply  to  Jesus  of  Nazareth  at  all  was 
evidence  of  a  stronger  faith  than  is  common  at  the  pres- 
ent day.  Not  Lazarus  in  his  tomb  was  farther  from  life 
and  hope,  than  those  who  came  to  Jesus  for  relief.  Despair 
had  fastened  its  iron  grip  upon  their  hearts ;  in  many  cases 
death  with  its  icy  fingers  was  feeling  for  the  seat  of  life: 
and  the  lips  of  prayer  had  ceased  supplication  for  deliver- 
ance. One  of  them  said  to  Jesus:  "Thou  canst  make  me 
whole";  and  this  betokened  a  mighty  faith.  Such  were 
those  whom  Jesus  healed;  not  the  prisoners  of  hope;  but 
prisoners  of  despair  from  the  lowest  vaults  of  the  Stygian 
dungeon. 

Creative  powei'  alone  could  afford  relief  from  their  dis- 
tresses. What  was  asked  from  him  was  a  greater  boon  than 
the  gift  of  the  world  without  it:  and  asked  by  those  who 
could  offer  no  return  other  than  gratitude.  In  all  cases 
there  was  no  doubt  to  whom  the  favored  ones  were  in- 
debted :  one,  and  one  alone,  could  claim  all  the  gratitude; 
no  partnership  in  the  work  and  the  glory  of  it  was  ad- 
missible.   The  subjects  must  have  felt  that  it  was  no  rob- 


472  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH   AND   THE    GRAVE. 

beiy  ill  him  to  make  himself  equal  with  God;  and  not  only 
they;  but  all  interested  and  cognizant.  Each  case  awakened 
discussion  in  the  respective  neighboi-hoods  similar  to  that 
detailed  in  John  IX.  and  drew  all  eyes  to  one  centre.  No 
greater  public  benefactor  ever  appeared;  and  priceless 
benefits  freelj^  bestowed,  in  cases  too  multiplied  to  be 
enumerated  or  recorded  over  all  parts  of  the  land,  and 
even  in  adjoining  territories  marked  the  period  as  the  era 
of  the  son  of  man. 

Not  only  were  the  favors  which  he  bestowed  above  all 
price;  the  tenderness  of  his  compassion,  and  the  loving 
kindness  of  his  manner  of  bestowment  made  the  gifts 
doubly  memorable.  It  seemed  to  gratify  him  as  much  to 
give;  as  it  did  the  applicants  to  receive.  The  existence  of 
a  real  faith  he  infallibly  discerned,  and  ever  greeted  it  with 
a  joy,  that  illuminated  his  whole  countenance :  and  a  bond 
that  nothing  could  sever  vvas  at  once  established  between 
himself  and  the  possessor  of  this  faith.  The  opportunity 
of  conferring  blessings  was  eagerly  seized  by  him ;  and  it 
made  him  appear  like  the  shepherd  finding  his  lost  sheep 
with  uncontrolable  joy,  or  the  father  embracing  his  lost 
son.  He  tenderly  addressed  his  beneficiaries  as  "son''  or 
"daughter:''  and  they  were  not  words  of  hollow  compli- 
ment. The  very  tone  of  his  voice  assuaged  the  tumult  of 
excitement;  stilled  the  anxieties  of  fear;  commanded  the 
most  eager  and  engrossed  attention :  the  touch  of  his  hand 
thrilled  the  subject  with  a  new  sensation:  and  he  withheld 
nothing  that  was  asked  or  that  could  possibly  be  received: 
"be  it  unto  thee  eveoi  as  thou  wilt."  He  granted  all  with 
the  same  readiness  and  freedom,  with  which  he  forgives 
iniquity,  transgression  and  sin.  It  is  difficult  to  see  how 
those,  who  received  mercies  from  him,  could  avoid  being- 
caught  in  the  toils  of  his  love,  and  drawn  to  him,  as  the 
man  born  blind  was,  or  the  poor  demoniac  of  (Jadara,  or 
Mary  ^lagdalene,  whose  love  was  all  the  return  the  mighty 
healer  sought.  He  was  seeking  recipients  more  zealously 
than  sufferei-s  were  seeking  deliverance:  and  the  greater 
the  help  demanded  by  a  case;  the  more  eagerly  and  affec- 
tionately was  it  bestowed. 


LOUD  OF  LIFE   AND  GLORY.  473 

What  do  these  miracles  teach  respecting  their  o-reat 
author,  was  a  matter  of  reflection  in  many  minds.  It  can 
confidently  be  said,  that  he  who  can  create  a  new  limb  to 
replace  one  that  has  been  lost,  or  that  can  put  an  eye  in 
an  empty  socket,  can  create  man.  He,  who  can  instantly, 
and  perfectly,  and  permanently  remove  a  disease,  that  is 
bringing  its  victim  to  the  very  gate  of  the  tomb,  and  has 
him  as  its  sure  prey;  is  master  of  death  and  grave.  He, 
who  can  bring  back  from  the  sepulchre  a  single  body 
already  the  prey  of  corruption,  can  call  the  sleepers  of 
all  time,  and  they  shall  come  forth.  He,  who  can  create  a 
single  grain  of  sand  out  of  nothing,  can  create  a  world. 
He  who  can  tread  upon  the  waves  of  the  sea,  and  com- 
mand its  finny  inhabitants  to  do  his  bidding;  who  can 
ascend  the  pathway  ol  the  skies,  to  his  original  home  is 
no  mere  man.  He  who  can  cast  out  the  devils  from  their 
usurped  dominion  of  a  human  subject,  and  restore  lost 
reason  to  its  throne;  who  can  subdue  sins  as  strong  and 
as  terrible  as  the  demons;  and  forgive  sins  blacker  than 
night;  though  he  be  in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh,  is  no 
sinner  himself.  He,  who  can  by  his  blood  take  away  the 
sins  of  the  world,  is  higher  than  the  heavens,  more  worthy 
than  angels;  inasmuch  as  he  has  obtained  a  more  excel- 
lent name  than  they.  He,  at  whose  death  the  sun  and 
earth  were  mourners,  whom  the  grave  could  not  hold  is 
God.  His  works  were  the  smallest  that  he  could  perform; 
he  reduced  himself  to  the  lowest  stage  that  could  be  at- 
tained; yet  is  he  king  of  glory,  the  king  of  hearts.  He 
sits  on  the  throne  of  universal  dominion;  but  his  most 
chosen  throne  is  the  humble  and  contrite  heart. 


474  VICTOR   OVEIi    DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE. 


CHAPTER   XLIV 


THE  TEACHING. 


Never  man  spake  like  this  man.    Jno.   \'II:  46. 

We  liave  in  our  gospels  the  words  of  Jesus  without  the 
accompaniment  of  tone  and  look  and  emphasis,  on  which 
so  much  of  the  force  of  speech  depends.  Of  the  impression 
wliich  they  made  upon  his  hearers,  when  backed  by  his 
personahty,  we  can  form  but  a  meagre  conception.  In  the 
discourse  which  led  to  this  expression  of  the  officers,  there 
must  have  been  force  in  the  manner  and  tone,  as  well  as 
in  the  words.  The3'  evidently  understood  that  he  knew 
them  and  their  errand,  and  as  it  were,  challenged  them  to 
execute  it.  They  were  however  powerless  before  him,  and 
appreciated  how  awful  goodness  is,  and  truth,  which  formed 
a  defense  around  him  more  impregnable  than  arms.  Be- 
fore his  look  disguises  vanished;  and  masks  were  dropped; 
and  against  him  no  hand  could  be  stretched  out.  He  was 
safe  in  the  midst  of  raging  enemies,  as  amid  adoring  angels; 
and  that  fi-om  his  felt  superiority,  which  seems  to  have 
been  as  evident  to  all  beholders  as  the  light  of  day.  An 
inquiry  into  the  c^:aracter  of  his  teaching  cannot  fail  to 
interest  and  instruct. 

1.  And  first  he  commenced  his  ministry  without  any 
previous  pre})aTation.  Letters  he  had  never  learned;  he  had 
sat  at  the  feet  of  no  rabbi:  resorted  to  no  library;  nor 
travelled  like  the  ancient  philosophers  in  the  quest  of  truth, 
making  what  was  the  tour  of  the  world  to  them.  He  went 
diivctly  from  the  workshoj)  to  the  ])ulpit,  unsu])plied  with 
the  material  of  wisdom  from  any  earthly  source;  and 
di-()p])ed  upon  the  stage,  causing  the  greatest  sensation  of 
history.  Inspiied  apostles  were  not  sent  without  a  pro- 
longed training;  and  prophets  were  often  terribly  prepared 
for  their  work.    Moses  "come  to  vears"  believed  h'mself  born 


LORD  OF  LIFE  AND   GLORY.  475 

to  deliver  Israel:  but  forty  years  of  exile  and  bruising  in 
God's  will  were  required  fully  to  qualify  him.  "By  terrible 
things  in  righteousness''  God  often  takes  his  messenger 
through  the  deep  experience  of  the  truths,  which  he  is  to 
be  sent  to  announce.  We  can  but  weep  with  Jeremiah  as 
we  read  how  God  prepared  his  head  as  waters,  and  his 
eyes  as  fountains  of  tears.  Jonah  required  to  ride  three 
days  and  three  nights  from  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar  to 
the  Persian  Gulf  in  a  new  style  of  conveyance,  the  belly  of 
a  whale;  in  ordei'  to  be  fitted  for  his  mission.  God  teaches 
as  man  cannot.  The  highest  degree  of  his  university  the 
D.  D.  is  "acquainted  with  grief." 

He  prepares  his  servants  for  their  work,  he  knows  how 
to  make  the  heart  soft,  how  to  pour  grace  into  the  hps; 
how  to  write  a  message  upon  the  soul  with  a  "pen  of  iron 
and  the  point  of  a  diamond.'' 

But  in  Jesus  we  see  one  who  neeeded  no  training;  a 
young  man  from  the  carpenter's  bench,  knowing  no  book 
but  the  Old  Testament,  having  received  nothing  from  man  ; 
"a  polished  shaft"  which  man  never  shaped;  who  speaks, 
"and  eternity  is  filled  with  his  voice."  His  words  have 
more  force  to-day  than  when  first  uttered,  becaure  better 
understood,  and  will  gain  new  accessions  of  strength  while 
the  earth  endures. 

He  is  drawing  from  inexhaustible  stores  of  knowledge 
and  wisdom.  The  light  of  eternity  is  that  b^^  which  he 
teaches,  shining  more  and  more  as  time  wears  away.  He 
speaks  in  a  desultory  manner  as  occasions  arise;  but  the 
world  has  not  yet  fathomed  the  full  depth  and  reach  of  his 
words.  When  like  leaven  they  permeate  the  whole  lump; 
man  will  be  restored  to  God ;  and  the  earth  will  become  a 
miniature  of  heaven.  He  aims  to  be  the  king  of  hearts,  and 
to  surround  himself  with  subjects  capable  of  stronger  love 
than  angels,  and  in  consequence,  of  a  fuller  happiness  than 
theirs.  As  his  kingdom  enlarges  and  develops,  it  will  make 
of  all  nations  one  family;  subdue  and  eradicate  the  great 
causes  of  misery;  and  produce  a  more  and  more  close 
resemblance  to  that  world,  into  which  sin  cannot  enter. 
There  is  but  one  being  in  whose  breast  a  design  so  stupend- 
ous could  be  begotten. 


476  VICTOR   OVER  DEATH   AND  THE   GRAVE. 

His  claims  were  supreme  from  the  very  outset;  they  did 
not  orow  with  time  and  success.  And  yet  not  his  claims: 
he  made  no  claims;  he  did  not  bear  witness  of  himself.  It 
was  the  father  who  bore  witness  of  him.  From  the  first  he 
stood  before  the  nation  as  the  eternal  son  of  the  eternal 
father:  his  claims  were  not  suo-o;ested  by  events  and  oppor- 
tunities. The  nation  was  indeed  ripe  for  the  reception  of  a 
temporal  king-,  and  offered  a  most  desirable  field  for  an 
enterprise  of  a  worldly  kind ;  but  his  way  lay  not  in  that 
direction.  He  suddenly  came  to  the  temple,  as  the  hg-ht- 
ning  Hashes  out  of  the  midnight  darkness;  and  taking 
possession  of  ''his  Father's  house,"  cleansed  it  from  the 
defilements  of  unholy  traffic;  thereby  fulfilling  prophecy, 
and  declaring  his  position  and  pretensions. 

2.  His  style  of  teaching  was  the  simplest  and  most 
forcible  that  could  be  used.  His  meaning  was  never  doubt- 
ful: no  shadow  of  uncertainty  ever  dimmed  the  light  of 
his  instructions.  Truth  in  its  naked  beauty  shone  without 
a  veil  in  his  utterances.  His  illustrations  were  of  the  very 
simplest  kind;  and  he  abounded  in  them,  drawn  from  what 
was  passing  before  the  eyes  of  his  auditors,  the  fowls  of 
the  air,  the  flowers  of  the  field,  the  labors  of  the  husband- 
man, the  tasks  of  the  housewife,  the  shepherd,  and  the 
sheep,  of  which  Jerusalem  at  times  was  full,  the  happenings 
of  every  day  life,  intelligible  to  every  hearer.  His  parables 
show  an  exhaustless  wealth  of  illustration;  while  he 
could  turn  every  ordinary  occuiTence  into  a  vehicle  of  re- 
ligious truth,  and  dissociate  religious  instruction  with  every 
usual  happening  of 'life. 

But  what  lent  a  hundred  fold  force  to  his  words  was  the 
fact,  that  he  made  his  miracles  illustrations  of  the  truth 
which  he  was  inculcating  at  the  time. 

The  cure  of  the  paralytic  at  Capernaum  is  an  instance. 
He  was  probably  speaking  on  the  subject  of  the  divine  for- 
giveness of  sins  at  the  time,  when  the  couch  with  the  help- 
less sufferer  was  let  down  into  the  midst  of  the  crowd,  and 
immediately  before  himself;  and  he,  knowing  the  condition 
of  mind  in  which  the  patient  was,  most  lovingly  and 
naturally  announced  to  him:  "Son,  be  of  good  cheer;  thy 
sins  be  formven  thee:"'  and  when  the  hearts  of  the  hearers 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND    GLORY.  477 

were  agitated  with  the  inquiry,  "who  can  forgive  sin8,  but 
God  only?"  he.  in  proof  of  his  right  to  forgive,  commanded 
the  man  to  arise,  take  up  his  bed,  and  go  to  his  own 
house.  Tlie  matter  proved  was,  that  Jesus  had  power  to 
restore  the  soul  to  the  favor  of  God,  its  normal  condition; 
just  as  his  ability  was  demonstrated  to  restore  the  body 
to  its  normal  physical  condition.  The  miracle  was  an  illus- 
tration and  a  demonstration.  We  are  not  astonished  when 
Luke  tells  us,  v:  26,  "Thej-  were  all  amazed,  and  glorified 
God,  and  were  filled  with  fear,  saying,  we  have  seen  strange 
things  to-day."  The  illustration  and  proof  given  had  over- 
whelmed all  who  saw  it. 

So  the  gospel  invitation  to  those  that  labor  and  are 
heavy  laden,  Matt,  xi:  28,  followed  the  heahng  of  a  great 
number  of  blind,  deaf,  lame,  lepers,  etc.,  before  the  eyes  of 
the  messengers  of  John.  In  concluding  the  array  of  evi- 
dence to  be  reported  to  the  Baptist,  he  added  this  precious 
invitation  to  all,  through  all  time,  who  were  suffering  from 
the  distress  and  miseries  of  sin,  to  come  to  him  and  find 
rest  for  their  souls;  as  this  multitude  had  found  relief  for 
their  bodies.  His  ability  to  heal  to  the  uttermost  had 
been  exhibited :  and  it  was  a  fitting  opportunity  to  extend 
his  offer  of  aid  to  all  who  were  groaning  under  the  great 
spiritual  malady  of  sin.  His  miracles  were  thus  object  les- 
sons, and  so  never  diverted  the  attention  of  the  hearers 
from  the  great  truths  inculcated ;  but  deepened  the  impres- 
sions of  them  vastly.  His  teachings  were  never  disturbed 
by  miracles ;  but  their  force  was  greatly  intensified :  pal- 
pable demonstrations  being  interspersed. 

The  healing  of  the  centurion's  servant  in  Capernaum  be- 
came a  teaching  of  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  and  the  re- 
jection of  Israel  for  their  lack  of  faith:  this  faith  of  the 
soldier  being  the  most  gratifying  offering  to  the  Christ 
that  he  had  received  on  earth.  No  white-winged  seraph 
could  add  a  greater  honor  to  his  Lord,  than  does  a  sin- 
ner who  trusts  his  word.  For  the  lack  of  such  faith,  God's 
covenant  people,  allied  by  a  bond  of  twenty  centuries, 
would  be  rejected. 

So  the  restoration  of  the  man  born  blind  was  a  lesson 
and  an  invitation.     His   enemies   had   just   attempted    to 


478  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE. 

stone  the  Savior:  and  the  prayer  was  ah-eady  in  his  heart, 
■•Father  forgive  them:  they  know  not  what  they  do." 
How  easily  he  could  have  helped  their  unbelief,  and  how 
readily  he  would  have  complied  with  a  request  for  his  aid, 
was  exemplified  before  their  eyes  in  the  monumental  deliv- 
erance of  the  poor  beg-g-ar,  whom  they  all  had  known  from 
childhood,  a  constant  temple  attendant.  This  man  stood 
long-  before  their  view, an  ever  present  reminder  of  a  living 
deliverer,  waiting  to  save  even  his  perverse  enemies. 

His  miracles  abundantly  represented  him  as  tlie  physi- 
cian of  souls:  that  he  could  relieve  the  Wind,  the  dumb, 
the  leper,  the  possessed.  The  great  obstacle,  in  the  way 
of  salvation  of  any  man,  is  the  necessity  of  applying  to 
Jesus,  as  being  blind,  and  deaf,  and  leprous,  and  possessed. 

So  in  the  defence  before  the  Sanhedrin,  recorded  in  John, 
V.  ch.,  which  was  made  near  the  time,  when  he  restored 
to  hfe  the  daughter  of  Jairus  and  the  young  man  of  Nain, 
we  read  in  vs,  28-29,  "marvel  not  at  this,"  etc.  Imagine 
him  standing  in  the  house  of  Jairus,  or  in  the  street  of 
Nain,  beside  the  empty  bier,  and  saying:  "Marvel  not  at 
this:  for  the  hour  is  coming,  in  the  which  all  that  are  in 
their  graves  shall  hear  his  [my]  voice,  and  shall  come 
forth;  they  that  have  done  good,  unto  the  resurrection  of 
life ;  and  they  that  have  done  evil,  unto  the  resurrection  of 
damnation."  The  evidence  was  before  the  eyes  of  all.  The 
miracle  and  the  truth  illustrated  may  not  have  come  simul- 
taneously; but  they  were  always  in  such  close  connection, 
as  to  give  power  to  his  words,  such  as  never  could  attend 
the  speech  of  man.'' 

So  when  he  entered  Jerusalem  in  triumph,  with  his  cheeks 
wet  with  sorrow  over  the  fearful  doom  awaiting  her,  which 
his  own  lips  had  pronounced;  the  next  day  he  withered 
away  from  the  very  roots  the  barren  fig  tree,  the  hardiest 
of  trees;  that  it  might  stand  with  its  blighted  trunk  and 
blackened  branches,  to  confirm  continually  to  beholders 
the  words  of  doom,  by  which  the  holy  city  had  been  con- 
signed to  its  merited  fate. 

His  miracles  were  thus  all  subservient  to  his  teach- 
ings, and  socondary.  Each  one  was  an  illustration  and  a 
demonstration  of  the  truth  uttered   at  the  time.    Each  was 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   (ILORY.  479 

an  object  lesson,  repeating-  with  a  hundred-fold  force  the 
words  of  his  lips.  Miracles  and  teachings  are  so  interwo- 
ven and  blended  as  to  lose  much  of  their  impression,  de- 
tached as  we  read  them.  He,  who  could  answer  the  thoughts 
of  men,  and  make  all  the  powers  of  nature  enforce  what  he 
said,  stands  unparalleled.  "Never  man,"  nor  angel,  nor 
the  most  exalted  creature,  "spake  like  this  man."  His 
w^ords  seem  never  to  have  been  forgotten  by  friend  or  foe; 
but  to  have  been  branded  into  the  memory.  Could  we 
weave  into  one  combined  history  the  four  accounts  which 
we  possess,  with  the  miracles  dove-tailed  each  into  its  actual 
place,  with  the  accompanying  words  connected,  we  should 
be  able  to  realize  something  of  the  mighty  sensation,  which 
shook  the  hearts  of  men  with  an  inconceivable  force,  during 
his  short  ministry'. 

Of  course  such  a  being  was  emphatically  alone  in  his 
undertaking,  without  companion  or  counsellor.  None  com- 
prehended him;  not  his  mother  and  brethren,  nor  his  chosen 
twelve,  who  were  rather  incumbrances  and  clogs;  nor  his 
great  forerunner,  who  seems  at  the  last  to  have  almost 
given  up  his  faith.  "He  traveled  in  the  greatness  of  his 
strength;  and  of  the  people  there  was  none  with  him."  He 
"sailed  through  bloody  seas"  alone.  In  all  God's  works 
he  is  alone.  "I  am  he  that  stretcheth  out  the  heavens 
alone,  and  spread eth  abroad  the  earth  by  myself.  My  glory 
will  I  not  give  to  another."  "Who  hath  given  to  him? 
and  it  shall  be  recompensed  to  him  again."  "He  trod  the 
wine-press  alone;  and  of  the  people  there  was  none  with 
him."  None  partook  or  shared  with  him:  our  Jesus  la- 
bored and  taught  and  died  alone. 

•  4.  He  taught  with  an  indescribable  authority;  an  au- 
thority resulting  from  the  subjects  of  his  discourse,  and 
the  personality  of  the  teacher.  To  him  this  world  and 
the  present  life  were  as  nothing:  the  boundless  hereafter 
and  the  undying  soul  were  alone  worthy  of  thought.  His 
very  look  carried  with  it  a  conviction  of  the  unseen  and 
eternal:  in  his  presence  no  doubt  could  be  entertained 
respecting  God  and  immortality.  Heaven  and  hell  were 
realities  when  he  spoke.  In  comparison  with  these  mighty 
themes,  all  earthly  matters  shrank  into  trifles.    The  most 


480  VICTOK   OVER   DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE. 

terrible  expressions  of  the  scriptures  respecting  final  retri- 
bution came  from  his  lips:  *'hell-fire,"  "damnation  of  hell,'' 
"flame  of  torment,"  "fire  that  shall  never  be  quenched,'* 
"worm  that  never  dies."  In  discussiiigthese  mig-hty  themes, 
the  power  of  truth  has  made  kings  to  tremble  and  keep 
silence.  How  deep  their  impression  from  the  lips  of  the 
sinless  one! 

And  then  Jesus  never  intimates  that  his  teachings  de- 
pend for  their  authoi'ity  upon  a  higher  than  himself.  The 
first  notice  which  we  gain  of  this  high  prestige  comes  from 
those  who  heard  the  sermon  on  the  mount.  His  subject 
was  the  law  of  eternal  right,  which  assigns  to  God  the 
throne  of  undivided  dominion,  and  makes  him  sovereign 
of  created  things :  and  here  he  i3laces  himself  in  the  seat  of 
power,  and  makes  himself  the  source  and  head  of  all  right. 
His  discrimination  of  evil  in  its  minutest  ramifications,  and 
his  condemnation  of  it  in  its  most  subtle  attenuations 
belong  to  omniscient  purity.  vSin  is  the  poison  of  human 
nature,  the  curse  of  the  earth,  the  thing  which  God  hates: 
and  the  slighest  tinge  of  evil  is  abhorrent  to  him :  as  the 
faintest  smell  of  eorruptiou  causes  us  to  reject  what  is 
tainted.  He  ferrets  it  out  in  its  deepest  hiding  place,  and 
smites  it  with  the  sword  of  his  mouth  at  its  first  appear- 
ance in  the  thoughts  of  the  heart.  "Heaven  and  earth 
shall  pass;  but  one  jot  or  title  of  the  law  shall  not  fail." 
It  is  changeless  as  the  eternal  throne,  and  bottomed  on 
the  immutable  attributes  of  Jehovah,  being  a  glass  in 
which  can  be  discovered  the  divine  holiness  and  glory. 

Who  interprets  law  authoritatively?  the  highest  court  in 
existence,  a  branch  of  the  government  as  exalted  and  re- 
sponsible as  the  legislative  itself.  Jesus  interprets  it  as 
being  the  ultimate  judge,  fj-oni  whose  decree  there  lies  no 
appeal.  Listen  with  the  hand  upon  the  mouth.  He  may 
be  correcting  the  ftilse  interpretations  of  the  day;  in  some 
cases  he  may  be  correcting  Moses ;  but  in  others,  he  takes 
the  words  out  of  the  mouth  of  God  himself,  and  defines 
their  intent.  "Ye  have  Inward  that  it  hath  been  said  to 
them  of  old  time,  thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery." 
Who  said  this  of  old  time?  Jehovah  from  the  top  of  the 
mount  of  fire.    Hear  him:    "But  /say  unto  you.".    It  is  not 


LORD  OF   LIFE  AND  GLORY.  481 

matter  of  wonder  that  the  people  were  astonished.  Who 
is  this  being'  who  can,  without  awakening  disgust  and 
horror  arrogate  the  prerogative  of  Jehovah?  None  seem 
to  have  been  shocked :  but  rather  all  felt  that  the  claim 
agreed  with  the  immeasurable  dignity  and  purity  of  the 
mysterious  speaker.  No  other  being  ever  lived  on  earth  of 
whom  such  a  thought  could  be  entertained  for  a  moment. 
But  the  point  is  not  proved  so  much  from  the  consent  of 
the  hearers,  as  from  the  fact  that  Jesus  assumed  the 
character.  He  never  withdrew  the  claim;  though  the 
nation  demanded  retraction  at  the  peril  of  death.  He  re- 
tained the  consciousness  to  the  last,  and  expressed  it  with 
his  dying  breath,  in  the  honest  hour  of  dissolution. 

The  authorit3%  which  men  discovered  in  him,  was  identi- 
cal with  the  authority  of  the  divine  law,  and  the  cause  of 
God  on  earth  was  his  own  cause.  The  church  is  the  light 
of  the  world,  simply  as  it  reflects  his  teachings  and  spirit; 
and  the  salt  of  the  earth  as  it  is  the  channel  through 
which  his  grace  is  communicated.  Persecution  for  righte- 
ousness' sake  is  persecution  for  his  sake.  He  came  into 
the  world  to  save  men ;  and  they  quickly  drove  him  out  of 
it.  Prophets  and  apostles  drink  of  the  same  cup,  and  are 
baptized  with  the  same  baptism  for  his  sake. 

At  the  close  of  the  sermon  he  announces  himself  as  the 
final  judge  of  men,  whose  individual  destiny  will  be  deter- 
mined according  to  their  regard  for  his  Avords,  or  neglect 
of  them.  Such  teachings  produced  a  deeper  sensation  than 
tis  mightiest  miracles,  and  left  a  more  lasting  impression; 
and  he  carried  with  him  the  judgment  and  conscience  of 
his  auditors.  Such  words  were  never  heard  on  earth  be- 
fore or  since.  He  was  no  inspired  prophet,  but  the  sender 
of  the  prophets;  he  was  no  messenger,  but  the  world's 
master;  come  to  seek  fruit  from  his  vineyard.  "He  could 
not  be  hid:"  his  very  tone  detected  him. 

5.  He  taught  with  a  mingled  severity  and  love  peculiar 
to  himself.  The  last  of  the  prophets  had  left  the  predic- 
tion: "Behold  he  shall  come:  but  who  may  abide  the  day 
of  his  coming?  for  he  shall  be  like  the  refiner's  fire,  and 
like  fuller's  soap.''  The  refiner's  fire  is  a  singularly  small, 
but  intensely  hot  fiame,  capable  of  subduing  the  most  re- 
-31 


482  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH   AND   THE    GRAVE. 

fractorv  ore,  until  it  runs  down  like  waiter.  The  fuller's 
.soap  cannot  be  handled  without  excoriation,  so  caustic  is^ 
its  purifyino-  power.  Everyone  that  approached  him  was 
cast  into  the  crucible  of  the  refiner,  or  into  the  vat  of  the 
fuller.  At  this  distance  of  time  we  stand  appalled  at  his 
denunciations,  at  the  immeasurable  severity  of  his  judg- 
ments: but  attending  his  sternest  condemnation,  we  hear 
an  undertone  of  soul-^lissolving  pity,  a  perfect  groan  of 
compassion.  These  are  among  the  most  touching  passages 
of  the  gospel.  It  is  the  same  Jesus,  dooming  the  holy  city 
amid  loud  weeping  and  streaming  tears,  who  is  groaning 
over  souls  lost. 

With  what  terrible  reproofs  he  assailed  the  religious  lead- 
ers of  the  day:  "Ye  serpents,  ye  generation  of  vipers,  how 
can  ye  escape  the  damnation  of  hell?''  "Ye  are  of  your 
father  the  devil,  and  the  lusts  of  your  father  ye  will  do." 
Nor  was  he  more  lenient  towards  his  disciples  and  friends: 
witness  his  reproof  of  Peter:  "Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan; 
for  thou  savorest  not  the  things  that  be  of  («od,  but  the 
things  that  be  of  men."  Nothing  less  could  be  expected 
from  infinite  purity  tabernacling  among  a  people  of  un- 
clean lips;  but  his  indignation,  not  having  the  smallest 
tinge  of  scorn  or  contempt,  smote  only  that  it  might  heal ; 
killed  only  that  it  might  make  alive. 

In  the  midst  of  terrible  rebuke,  directed  against  the  most 
malignant  enemies,  we  hear  the  moving  of  the  bowels  of 
unutterable  compassion,  and  behold  the  tears  of  divine 
pity.  This  blendir/^  of  justice  and  mercy  is  inimitable,  and 
imparts  a  melting  pathos  to  his  most  caustic  rebukes.  It 
is  as  though  we  were  privileged  to  look  through  the  fires 
and  smoke  of  the  burning  Sinai  to  the  very  seat  of  the 
law-giver;  and  there  behold,  not  the  storm-clad  Jehovah 
upon  his  throne  of  fire;  but  the  bleeding  Jesus  upon  a 
Roman  cross.  Irreconcilable  opposites  meet  and  combine 
in  glorious  harmony  in  him:  the  most  intense  hatred  of 
the  sin,  and  the  most  incredible  love  for  the  sinner;  a  zeal 
that  would  stamp  out  transgression  with  blood,  and  with 
it  a  tenderness  that  would  rescue  the  transgressor  at  the 


LORD  OF  LIFE  AND   GLORY.  483 

sacrifice  of  life.  His  anger  is  grief:  "He  lool^ed  upon  tliem 
witli  anger,''  "being  grieved  because  of  the  hardness  of  their 
hearts.'' 

6.  He  completed  the  rev^elation.  The  scriptures  of  the 
Old  Testament  were  incomplete;  and  the  system  of  religion 
contained  in  them,  while  intelligible  so  far  as  the  existence 
of  one  living  and  true  God,  and  the  accountability  and 
immortality  of  man,  and  the  possibility  of  divine  forgive- 
ness of  sins  are  concerned;  yet  beyond  these  primary  truths 
is  wholly  obscure  and  unintelligible.  The  round  of  i-ites 
and  ceremonies  enjoined  needed  interpretation;  and  their 
drift  was  wholly  misunderstood  by  the  nation  which  prac- 
ticed them,  and  adhered  to  them  with  an  unconquerable 
attachment.  That  the  bloody  sacrifices  had  a  Messianic 
reference,  and  that  a  great  atoning  work  of  the  coming- 
deliverer  was  shadowed  forth  in  them,  the  Jewish  people 
were  profoundly  ignorant. 

Dr.  Edersheim  has  collated  from  the  rabbinic  writings  all 
the  passages  of  prophecy,  which  the  writers  have  quoted 
as  referring  to  the  Messiah ;  and  we  gather  from  his  enum- 
eration, that  they  did  not  interpret  the  ordained  sacrifices 
as  having  any  reference  to  his  work.  They  were  far  from 
understanding  that  the  mission  of  the  Messiah  would  be  to 
suffer,  and  to  atone.  Abraham  had  indeed  been  privileged 
to  see  the  day  of  Christ,  and  had  learned  that,  when  the 
great  propitiation  should  be  made,  God  himself  would  fur- 
nish the  lamb  for  a  burnt-offering;  and  that  it  would  be 
his  own  Isaac.  The  truths  veiled  under  the  mysterious 
events  upon  Mount  Moriah,  were  easily  overlooked.  Formal- 
ism and  self-righteousness  "see  and  perceive  not,  hear  and 
understand  not :  their  heart  is  fat,  their  ears  are  heavy,  and 
their  eyes  are  shut." 

Judaism  was  unintelhgible ;  its  symbol  was  a  veil,  denot- 
ing that  more  was  concealed  than  was  revealed.  Through 
the  veil  none  could  see  the  beyond ;  the  essentials  lay  hid- 
den in  the  impenetrable  holy  of  holies.  Judaism  was  like 
a  beautiful  but  headless  statue  uncovered  from  the  rub- 
bish of  ages,  of  faultless  proportions,  and  of  unparalleled 
beauty  and  grace;  but  imperfect,  wanting  its  chief  part. 
The  head,  if   ever   recovered,  must  exactly  fit  the  fracture, 


484  VICTOH  OVER  DEATH   AND  THE   GRAVE. 

with  a  perfectly'  corresponding  surface,  answering  to  every 
protuberance  and  indentation  of  the  break.  Christianity 
supplies  the  lacking  head  and  completes  the  statue,  a  form 
of  most  enchanting  loveliness.  Judaism  was  a  bud  unde- 
veloped, in  which  laj^  enclosed  a  most  gorgeous  flower  in- 
visible until  the  time  came  for  its  leaves  to  open. 

The  veil  dividing  the  visible  woi-ld  from  the  invisible  was 
rent  in  the  death  of  Christ ;  the  temple  of  God  was  thrown 
wide  open;  and  the  mysteries  of  our  forgiveness  by  a  sin- 
hating  God  have  been  revealed,  and  became  matters  of 
knowledge.  We  now  understand  the  conflict  of  the  divine 
attributes;  and  how  they  harmonize  in  the  work  of  our 
Redeemer.  His  great  sacrifice  revealed  the  character  of 
God  in  the  full-orbed  glory  of  his  high  perfections,  and 
made  harmoniously  plain  the  great  principles  of  the  divine 
government.  The  necessity  of  an  adequate  propitiation  to 
the  law  of  God  has  been  most  forcibly  declared;  and  we 
now  know,  that  it  was  made  by  the  sacrifice  of  the  sinless 
Lamb  of  God  in  the  place  of  sinners  and  on  their  behalf. 

Judaism  was  a  great  enigma  that  all  the  wisdom  of  man 
was  incompetent  to  solve:  the  ke^Mvas  lacking.  The  death 
of  Christ  as  a  substitute  for  sinners  furnishes  the  ke}'  to 
the  whole  word  of  God,  opens  all  the  mysteries  of  the 
kingdom,  explains  all  the  obscurities  of  the  old  dis- 
pensation, and  completes  and  concludes  the  whole  revela- 
tion. He  came  to  "seal  up  the  vision  and  prophec3'.''  No 
further  addition  can  ever  be  made,  no  further  addition  is 
needed.  _• 


LORD  OF  LIP^E   AND   GLORY.  485 


CHAPTER  XLV 


THE  PARABLES, 


The  iustructioiis  of  our  Lord  were  more  lucid  and  intel- 
ligible than  any  ever  delivered  by  saoes,  philosophers  and 
founders  of  schools  among  men.  With  him  was  no  uncer- 
tainty about  that  which  was  to  be  believed,  or  about  the 
duties  to  be  practiced.  He  never  expressed  a  doubt,  nor 
uttered  an  opinion.  Every  statement  was  definite  as  could 
be  made  in  words;  and  his  language  was  the  simplest  and 
most  distinct,  never  concealing  ignorance  behind  a  cloud 
of  verbiage;  but  on  the  contrary  brief,  direct  and  lumin- 
ous. Neither  had  he  one  set  of  teachings  for  outsiders, 
and  another  class  of  esoteric  doctrines  for  pronounced  dis- 
ciples. Truth,  like  the  light  of  the  sun  invariable  through 
all  ages  and  in  all  lands,  is  uniform,  as  is  obligation  and 
duty:  such  inflexible  constancy  is  found  in  the  teachings 
of  the  Nazarene.  There  came  a  period  in  his  ministry, 
however,  when  he  adopted  the  method  of  parables  for 
good  reasons ;  a  method  peculiar  to  himself,  and  the  high- 
est style  of  instruction  attainable. 

The  use  of  allegories,  and  fables  has  always  been  a  favor- 
ite mode  for  conveying  instruction;  as  they  fasten  the  at- 
tention of  hearers,  illustrate  truth  by  pleasing  and  pic- 
torial representations,  eagerly  heard,  easily  understood, 
and  delighting  the  fancy  while  instructing  the  mind  :  and 
hence  they  have  not  been  considered  beneath  the  employ- 
ment of  the  most  illustrious  writers  of  antiquity,  and  of 
modern  times  as  well.  The  allegory  is  a  wholly  fictitious 
narrative,  whose  object  is  to  describe  or  illustrate  by  an 
imagined  history  something  entirely  diverse  and  wholly 
separate  from  itself.  The  fable  differs  from  the  allegory, 
in  that  the  occurrences  set  forth  in  it  not  only  never  took 
place;  but  are  wholly  impossible.      It  attributes  reason  and 


486  VICTOR   OVER  DEATH  AND  THE   GRAVE. 

speech  to  animals  and  even  vegetables,  and  rational  con- 
duct to  the  blind  forces  of  nature:  nevertheless  the  story  illus- 
trates some  principle  or  truth  designed  t  o  be  strongly  em- 
phasized and  applied.  Like  the  allegory  and  the  fable,  the 
parable  is  intended  for  the  illustration  of  some  spiritual 
matter  entirely  diverse  from  itself;  but  it  differs  from  them 
in  one  chief  characteristic;  that  there  is  not  a  word  of 
fiction  in  it.  It  is  a  true  history  in  every  particular  of 
some  process  of  nature,  or  of  some  event  in  human  life  or 
society,  which  is  made  to  represent  and  illustrate  a  matter 
wholly  s])iritual,  and  lying  beyond  the  ken  of  sense.  The 
occurrences  detailed  in  it  if  not  actual  are  yet  possible. 
It  is  not  a  single  illustration  jnerely  but  a  bundle  of 
them;  every  particular  in  the  account  being  an  illustra- 
tion of  something  corresponding  in  the  spiritual  world; 
so  each  parable  is  a  collection  of  illustrations,  which 
cast  a  multifold  light  over  the  matter  in  hand.  This 
one  feature  of  absolute  truth  is  the  main  characteristic 
of  the  parable;  distinguishing  it  from  the  allegory  and 
the  fable,  and  furnishes  the  reason  for  its  adoption  by 
our  Savior.  Not  that  deception  is  intended  in  the 
use  of  the  allegory  and  fable;  but  he  could  not  con- 
descend to  emplo}^  them.  Truth  brighter  than  suns  is 
his  element,  and  the  uncreated  light  in  which  he  dwells; 
and  while  he  passed  through  a  world,  whose  air  is  foul 
with  falsehood,  "the  smell  of  the  fire  was  not  on  him,*' 
nor  the  slightest  odor  of  its  taint.  "In  his  lips  was  no 
guile.''  He  is  "the  truth"  and  as  transcendently  worthy 
of  our  adoration  tor  this  quahty,  as  for  the  incommuni- 
cable attributes  of  his  divinity. 

Instruction  b^^  parable  was  by  no  means  foreign  to  the 
word  of  God,  or  contrarj'  to  the  usages  of  the  Jewish  peo- 
ple. The  t3q)ical  ceremonies  of  their  own  Scriptures  were 
in  a  sense  parables.  In  them  spiritual  truths  of  vast  mo- 
ment were  represented  by  a  series  of  specified  forms;  the 
smallest  particular  of  which  had  couched  under  it  a  mean- 
ing of  immense  significance.  Nothing  ordained  of  heaven 
was  unworthy  of  consideration;  and  volumes  of  meaning- 
were  (•t)ntained  in  the  smallest  required  act;  were  it  only 
the  posture  of  the  hands,    or    the    uncovering    of  the  feet. 


LORD  OF  LIFE  AND  GLORY.  487 

The  stiifly  of  the  law  was  with  the  Jews  a  life  work;  and 
it  should  have  been  a  study  of  the  ^reat  spiritual  truths 
indicated  in  the  forms;  and  doubtless  had  been  such  in  the 
days  of  piety :  however  much  it  maj^  have  degenerated  into 
an  effort  for  a  laborious  extern alism.  To  a  people  trained 
as  they  were,  the  interpretation  of  "dark  sentences"  was  a 
grateful  employement;  and  thej^  relished  truth  conveyed 
under  an  abstruse  covering,  and  demanding  an  interpreter. 
Their  taste  was  formed  by  the  very  cast  of  their  system 
of  ceremonies,  each  one  of  which  was  a  parabolic  represen- 
tation. 

This  style  of  communicating  knowledge  is  agreeable  and 
fascinating  to  Orientals  3'et.  And  others  than  Orientals 
feel  the  force  of  a  comparison,  which  holds  through  a  suc- 
cession of  particulars,  that  make  a.  living  picture  fitted  to 
illustrate  and  enforce  truth.  No  teacher  ever  had  such 
power  of  illustration  as  our  Lord :  and  his  illustrations 
abide  in  the  memory,  and  furnish  unfailing  food  for 
thought.  No  better  system  of  mnemonics  was  ever  devised; 
and  no  surer  way  of  catching  the  attention  and  fixing  im- 
pressions. Perhaps  no  parable  was  ever  forgotten  b\^  those 
who  heard  it;  and  it  was  surely  recalled  at  ever^^  recur- 
rence of  the  incidents  on  which  it  was  based.  It  would 
seem  that  its  meaning,  if  not  immediately  obvious,  would 
be  grasped  in  time,  and  after  patient  consideration.  All 
that  would  be  needed  would  be  to  have  the  key ;  and  then 
at  a  glance  more  would  be  seen  than  could  be  conveyed  in 
long  descriptions:  and  more  is  condensed  into  a  smaller 
space,  than  books  can  contain.  His  illustrations  were  from 
objects  continually  before  the  eyes  of  all,  the  simplest  and 
the  homeliest,  from  the  every-day  acts  of  the  shepherd  and 
fisherman  and  agriculturist,  the  dailj""  duties  of  the  house- 
wife, from  marriage  customs,  usages  at  feasts,  from  the 
vine  everywhere  present,  from  the  herbs  of  the  garden,  and 
fiowers  of  the  field;  being  level  to  the  comprehension  of  the 
lowest,  while  worthy  of  the  attention  of  the  highest,  and 
passing  ever  under  the  eyes  of  all. 

Some  of  the  miracles  of  our  Lord  were  wholly  parabolic, 
such  as  the  withering  of  the  barren  fig-tree,  the  succor 
affoi'ded  to   the    toiling   disciples  when    he  came  to  them 


488  VICTOR  OVER  DEATH  AND  THE   GRAVE. 

walking  on  the  waves,  and  enabled  Peter  to  follow  his  ex- 
ample; and  gave  him  the  mastery  over  the  raging  wind 
and  sea.  These  and  some  others  of  the  miracles  were  not 
wrought  for  the  relief  of  suffering,  but  wliollj^  to  convey 
instruction;  and  may  be  properly  classed  as  parables:  but 
each  and  every  one  of  the  wonderful  works  of  help  to  the 
needy,  was  also  designed  to  teach  and  illustrate  certain 
truths,  as  well  as  to  relieve  suffering.  They  represented 
two  essential  facts,  the  condition  of  need  in  which  all  men 
are,  their  abnormal  state,  and  the  existence  of  a  helper 
possessing  the  power  needful  for  their  recovery,  and  the 
willingness  to  use  that  power  in  behalf  of  every  applicant. 
To  this  extent,  as  the}^  represent  these  great  gospel  truths, 
they  are  truh^  parables;  so  that  we  may  sa^^  with  truth 
that  every  miracle  was  also  a  parable;  not  couched  indeed 
in  words,  but  still  delineating  in  striking  visibility  the 
great  internal  deliverance  which  the  Savior  effects. 

There  is  in  the  parable  something  very  much  akin  to  the 
obscurity  of  prophecy.  The  visions  of  the  prophets  are 
largely  emblematical  representations  of  future  events. 

If  we  consider  closely  the  language  of  prophecy,  we  shall 
find  it  eminently  parabolic;  i.  e.,  it  is  full  of  comparisons 
which  hold  through  a  series  of  particulars,  illustrating 
spiritual  truths,  after  the  style  of  the  parable.  If  we  take 
for  an  example,  the  familiar  fortieth  chapter  of  Isaiah, 
the  prophet  hears  the  voice  of  a  herald  crying  in  the  wilder- 
ness: "Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,"  particularizing 
the  work  to  be  accomplished.  The  great  lack  of  the  na- 
tions of  antiquity  'vas  properly  consti-ucted  roads,  mak- 
ing travel  possible  and  easy.  The  people  are  therefore 
called  upon  to  prepare  a  way  for  the  king's  progress,  by 
making  cuts  through  the  hills,  and  embankments  through 
the  valleys,  and  thus  securing  a  level  route,  also  by  mak- 
ing the  track  as  ^straight  as  possible,  and  smoothing  the 
roughness  of  the  country,  that  the  expected  Messiah  may 
come  without  hindrance.  Ziou  and  Jerusalem,  who  are 
understood  to  be  leaders  in  spiritual  matters,  are  called 
upon  to  get  up  into  the  high  mountain  to  look  for  his 
approach,  and  publish    it  when    observed   with  loud  voice 


LORD  OF  LIFE  AND  GLORY,  489 

to  the  cities  of  Judali.  Behold,  he  shall  come  as  a  shepherd 
to  his  flock.  All  this  is  to  be  understood  spiritually,  and 
to  be  interpreted  just  as  a  parable  is. 

Then  we  have  a  description  of  Jehovah  ari'ang,iug  the 
world — measuring  the  water  for  the  seas  in  the  hollow  of 
his  hand,  meting-  out  the  heaven  with  a  span,  portioning 
out  the  dust  of  the  earth  in  a  measure,  weighing  out  the 
mountains  in  scales  and  the  hills  in  a  balance.  Lebanon  is 
not  sufficient  for  the  wood  of  an  offering,  nor  all  its  beasts 
fqr  a  burnt  offering.  All  nations  are  to  him  but  as  the 
drops  of  a  bucket,  and  are  counted  to  him  less  than  noth- 
ing and  vanity.  To  whom  then  will  ye  liken  God?  Of 
course,  this  is  not  susceptible  of  literal  interpretation. 
Almost  any  other  chapter,  that  could  have  been  selected, 
would  have  been  as  clear  an  example  of  this  style :  showing 
that  the  whole  prophetical  scripture  is  a  succession  of  em- 
blematical or  pictorial  representations  and  parabolic  des- 
criptions. 

The  parable  is  thus  an  eminently  scriptural  mode  of 
communicating  divine  truth;  and  it  occupies  the  principal 
place  among  the  chosen  methods ;  and  is  especially  adapted 
to  its  great  author;  and^  thus  it  was  particularly  fore- 
told of  the  Messiah,  that  he  should  teach  by  this  method ; 
"that  he  should  open  his  mouth  in  parables,  and  declare 
things  which  had  been  kept  secret  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world.''  So  wisely  and  fully  has  our  Lord  complied 
with  this  prediction,  that  if  the  whole  gospel  history  were 
lost ;  and  only  the  record  of  the  parables  were  preserved ; 
this  would  be  so  in  -keeping  with  the  methods  of  revela- 
tion, as  to  be  well  and  easily  understood ;  and  sufficient 
knowledge  of  the  Savior  and  his  work  would  be  gainable 
from  them  to  lead  Avithout  fail  to  eternal  life.  If  the  para- 
ble holds  so  high  a  place  in  the  scripture,  we  may  well 
expect  to  hear  from  the  lips  of  the  Christ  a  volume  of 
them,  which  shall  be  charming  for  their  simplicity,  and 
rich  in  their  condensation  of  saving  truth.  The  veil  of 
obscurity  resting  over  them  will  be  a  provocation  of  in- 
quiry, as  it  naturally  is,  when  it  is  known  that  something 
of  value  is  concealed.  The  hunter  after  hidden  treasure 
shall  be  rewarded.    The  parables  are  not  entirely  desultory 


490  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH   AND  THE   GRAVE. 

and  disconnected,  as  they  relate  to  different  aspects  of  the 
same  great  theme,  the  kingdom  and  its  subjects. 

Better  reasons  for  the  employment  for  parables  need  not 
be  souo'ht.  but  our  Lord  had  not  used  them  in  the  earlier 
portion  of  his  ministr3^;  nor  did  he  resort  to  them  until 
a  certain  point  of  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  people  had 
been  reached;  and  the  slander  had  been  taken  up  that  he 
cast  out  devils  through  Beelzebub.  He  had  previously  used 
the  greatest  plainness  of  speech,  such  that  a  wayfaring  man 
though  a  fool  could  understand;  but  the  defamation  of  his 
person  was  attended  with  open  contempt  for  his  teaching; 
and  thus  led  him  to  draw  the  veil  of  parable  over  his  dis- 
courses. The  censorious  critics  whose  opposition  was  already 
a  settled  matter,  not  being  able  to  stoop  to  inquire  the 
meaning  of  his  abtruse  sayings,  felt  their  contempt  of 
him  increased  by  this  course  on  his  part;  but  it  did  not 
hinder  one  sincere  iuquirei*;  or  throw  a  stumbling  block  in 
the  way  of  one,  who  with  an  honest  spirit  approached  him. 
None  was  more  accessible  than  our  Savior;  and  none  knew 
better  when  and  to  whom  to  communicate.  The  consequence 
was  that  "the  wise  and  [jrudent  saw  and  preceived  not; 
they  heard  and  understood  not.''  This  judgment  came 
upon  them  as  the  result  of  thefr  own  self-confidence  and 
inexcusable  ])rejudice.  The  doctrines  which  Jesus  taught, 
identical  with  those  of  their  own  sacred  books,  and  dis- 
tasteful to  the  natural  heart  in  every  age,  added  to 
their  dislike  of  him;  but  above  all  his  claim,  not  only 
of  efiuality  but  of  oneness  with  the  eternal  Father,  seemed 
to  them  a  tangible  and  actionable  crime,  and  swallowed 
up  all  other  objections.  As  they  turned  away  from  him, 
and  manifested  their  opposition  more  decidedly;  his  par- 
ables became  judicial;  and  were  filled  with  warning  of 
the  fearful  ruin  awaiting  the  nation  for  their  rejection  of 
him. 

It  was  at  the  peril  of  life,  as  we  learn  from  the  martyr- 
dom of  Stephen,  that  any  taught  that  the  temple  should 
be  destroyed,  and  the  customs  changed;  but  our  liord 
tauirht  this  in  such  a  manner,  that  it  was  impossible  to 
take  hold  of  his  words.  The  parable  is  a  safe  vehicle  for 
the    convevance    of    unwelcome   truths.      Some    things  the 


LORD  OF  LIFE  AND  GLORY.  491 

Jewish  people  would  not  hear  at  all:  the  bare  mention  of 
them  aroused  every  listener ;  jet  these  were  the  most  need- 
ful to  be  heard.  It  was  onh'  by  the  exercise  of  the  greatest 
prudence,  and  the  <:pecial  protection  of  heaven,  that  our 
Lord  filled  out  the  measure  of  his  short  ministry.  This 
masterly  prudence  was  specially  mentioned  in  the  prophetic 
delineations  of  him  ages  before.  And  yet  he  so  ordered  his 
speech  as  to  announce  to  them,  in  the  plainest  and  boldest 
terms  well  understood  by  every  auditor,  those  things  which 
quickened  every  pulse;  and  made  ever^'  heart  throb  with 
an  intensity  of  suppressed  feeling. 

It  may  be  impossible  satisfactorily  to  classify  the  New 
Testament  parables,  nevertheless  they  form  a  series  cover- 
ing the  whole  course  of  the  regenerated  soul  from  its  en- 
trance into  the  spiritual  life  until  the  rewards  of  heaven 
are  reached.  Several  have  reference  to  the  commencement 
of  that  life. 

A  poor  man  becomes  apprised  by  diligent  search  of  the 
existence  of  a  hidden  treasure  ample  for  all  his  wants. 
Keeping  the  matter  a  profound  secret,  he  sacrifices  all  that 
he  has,  in  order  to  obtain  an  honest  title  to  the  field  that 
contains  it.  The  scriptures  are  the  field,  the  favor  of  God 
is  the  treasure,  which  the  seeker  gains  by  sacrifice  of  all; 
not  given  as  a  price  however. 

A  trader  in  goodly  pearls,  possessing  msmy  rich  ones,  at 
length  gets  his  eye  upon  one  fit  to  adorn  the  diadem  of  a 
king:  and  sells  all  that  he  has  in  order  to  gain  it.  Men 
enjoy  many  choice  blessings,  among  which  are  reason, 
health,  strength,  home,  friends  and  possessions.  There  is 
however  one  gift  of  God  superior  in  value  to  them  all;  to 
be  obtained  however  only  by  him  who  would  surrender  all 
to  possess  it.  It  is  to  be  secured  b}'  the  most  intelligent 
and  determined  resolution. 

A  man  about  to  build  a  tower  must  first  sit  down,  and 
compute  the  cost  of  every  material  required,  and  of  the 
labor  necessarj^;  and  make  large  allowance  for  items  not 
enumerated;  and  be  well  assured  of  ample  means,  before  he 
undertakes  the  enterprise,  if  he  would  avoid  mockery. 

A  king  meditating  war  upon  another  king,  considers  well 
before  he  begins  what    may    have    the   gravest    issue;   and 


492  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE, 

may  terminate  in  the  destruction  of  his  own  king'dom. 
With  the  most  intense  application,  he  will  take  into  view 
all  possible  contino-encies,  before  he  will  give  the  signal  for 
battle;  and  if  not  confident  of  success,  will  send  an  embas- 
sage for  peace.  So  before  embarking  in  the  spiritual  war, 
the  deepest  consideration  is  needful.  None  need  undertake 
it  unless  determined  to  brave  the  world's  scorn  and  not  to 
quail  before  the  difficulties  and  contests  of  a  mortal  con- 
flict. 

Two  parables  have  reference  to  the  manner  of  receiving 
the  word.  Those  of  the  sower  and  of  the  two  builders. 
The  seed  of  the  word  is  to  be  received  into  a  soil  unlike 
the  beaten  path,  thoroughly  broken  up;  having  some  depth 
of  earth;  freed  from  the  weeds  and  thorns  of  this  world's 
cares;  and  it  must  be  "understood,"  "kept"  and  watered 
by  the  rains  of  heaven  and  nourished  by  its  sun :  and  it 
will  then  take  hold  upon  the  soil,  and  grow,  and  bear  fruit 
manifold. 

The  description  of  the  two  builders  may  be  called  the 
parable  of  the  careless,  and  the  earnest  hearer.  The  one 
listened  to  the  warnings  of  the  Savior  with  an  easy-going 
superficial  attention,  and  was  ready  to  build  his  hope  on 
any  foundation  which  offered  present  security ;  while  the 
other  was  in  the  deepest  earnest  about  the  future;  and 
would  trust  no  foundation  whatever  but  the  everlasting 
rock ;  and  was  willing  to  dig  and  dig  until  he  found  it. 
His  house  was  placed  where  no  beating  rain,  nor  wind,  nor 
fiood  could  move  jt.  Nothing  but  the  most  determined 
care  against  insuAicient  foundations  of  hope  will  avail. 
The  house  of  the  careless  hearer  "fell;  and  great  was  the 
fall  of  it;"  it  was  a  wreck  for  eternity;  the  ruin  of  an  un- 
dying soul. 

Two  exhibit  the  sinner  in  the  very  article  of  conversion. 
The  Pharisee  praying  in  the  temple  went  forward  as  near 
to  the  holy  place  as  he  could  be  allowed  to  stand ;  and 
there  offered  his  boastful  prayer.  The  publican  stood  just 
within  the  outer  gate;  on  the  outer  line  of  the  court  of 
the  Gentiles;  and  there  he  could  not  lift  his  drooping  eyes 
to  heaven,  nor  make  a  formal  prayer.  liOoking  upon  him- 
self as  "  the  sinner"  above  all  men,  he  smote  upon  his  breast 


LORD  OF  LIFE   AND   GLORY.  498 

with  the  action  expressive  of  despair ;  and  uttered  a  g-roan 
for  the  mercy  of  a  pardoning  God.  Unaware  of  the  fact 
that  he  had  made  a  real  prayer  for  the  first  time  in  his 
life,  unaware  yet  of  God's  foro-iveness,  he  went  down  to 
his  house  with  his  aching  heart  relieved,  and  his  burden 
left  behind. 

The  other  is  that  of  the  creditor  and  the  two  debtors; 
one  of  whom  owed  five  hundred  pence,  and  the  other  fifty. 
The  one  most  indebted  is  behind  him  at  the  very  moment. 
The  fountains  of  the  great  deep  of  her  soul  are  broken  up; 
her  tears  are  falling  like  rain ;  and  she  is  mutely  express- 
ing agonies  of  sorrow,  and  remorse  unutterable.  No  de- 
scription in  words  of  humility  could  equal  her  declaration 
of  it  in  acts,  fehe  is  anointing  the  holy  feet,  and  kissing 
them  with  the  most  tender  emotion ;  making  up  the  lack 
of  service  of  the  scornful  host.  She  is  even  now  being  born 
into  the  kingdom  of  purity  and  holiness.  The  earth  could 
as  easily  be  torn  from  its  sun,  as  she  separated  from  her 
Christ. 

Three  of  them  describe  the  joy  of  Christ's  salvation. 
The  children  of  the  bride-chamber  cannot  fast,  while  the 
bridegroom  is  with  them.  "Their  tongue  is  filled  with 
laughter,  and  their  mouth  with  singing,"  and  "sorrow  and 
sighing  are  fled  away."  While  Jesus  is  with  them  nothing- 
can  check  the  stream  of  their  joy.  Persecutions  and 
prisons  cannot  destroy  it;  the  world  cannot  take  it  Siway. 
A  badge  of  mourning  cannot  be  worn.  Neither  can  the 
joy  be  restricted  by  any  formal  rules  however  long  estab- 
lished. The  new  wine  would  burst  the  old  bottles  with 
loss;  the  new  piece  of  cloth  not  agreeing  with  the  old 
would,  by  its  greater  contraction,  tear  the  old  garment: 
and  increase  the  rent.  No  rules  can  be  prescribed  for  the 
fulness  of  joy,  such  as  comes  with  the  coming  of  the  holy 
one  into  the  submissive  soul. 

A  large  number  of  them  represent  the  grace  of  God  in 
the  conversion  of  the  soul.  The  parable  of  the  great  sup- 
per seems  intended  principall3^  to  set  forth  this  grace. 
When  all  the  invited  guests  prayed  to  be  excused,  the 
Lord  sent  out  his  servants  into  the  streets  and  lanes  of 
the  city  with  orders  to  bring  in  the  poor,  the  lame  and 


494  VICTOR  OVER   DEATH   AND  THE   GRAVE. 

the  blind  and  directed  them:  "go  out  in  the  highways  and 
hedges,  and  compel  tliem  to  come  in."  The  orders  trans- 
lated into  other  words  ran,  accept  the  excuses  of  such  as 
plead  their  worldly  business  and  cares;  but  take  no 
excuses  from  those  who  plead  their  unfitness,  filth  and  low 
condition.  Their  mouths  will  also  be  filled  with  excuses 
on  account  of  their  unworthiness,  poverty,  squalor  and 
rags,  and  their  not  being  in  agreement  with  the  brilliant  pre- 
parations of  the  house;  but  especially  with  excuses  drawn 
from  their  ignorance  of  the  master  of  the  feast,  and  their 
own  unreasonable  hostility,  and  previous  hatred  of  him. 
Pay  no  attention  to  such  excuses;  but  bring  them  in;  and 
if  need  be  lay  hold  of  them,  and" compel  them  to  come  in: 
suffer  no  such  one  to  escape  and  absent  himself:  compel 
him:   "that  my  house  may  be  filled." 

The  three  in  Lv.  xv,  magnify  the  grace  of  God  in  the 
recovery  of  the  lost.  The  woman  who  had  lost  a  piece  of 
silver,  the  shepherd  who  had  lost  one  of  his  flock,  the 
father  who  had  lost  a  son  represent  God.  A  spirit,  a  minia- 
ture of  himself,  is  lost:  a  soul  is  in  peril.  Jesus  has  lost 
one  who  might  swell  a  loud  note  in  the  song  which  no  angel, 
nor  unredeemed  sinner  can  learn.  He  has  lost  a  son  not 
for  the  present  short  life,  but  the  life  of  the  ever-rolling 
ages:  a  jewel  out  of  the  starry  crown.  Heaven  is  moved 
at  the  loss:  God  is  seeking  his  banished  one.  In  the 
search  of  the  housewife  with  the  broom,  in  the  prolonged 
hunt  of  the  shepherd,  in  the  famine  which  overtook  the 
wanderer  in  the  fer  country,  we  are  beholding  the  move- 
ment of  Providence  for  the  restoration  of  his  banished. 
When  at  length  his  return  is  secured,  the  joy  of  angels, 
the  joy  of  the  forgiven  soul  itself  is  slight  compared  with 
the  deeper,  more  intense  delight  that  moves  in  the  heart 
of  God. 

The  imagery  is  wholly  different  in  the  parable  of  the 
strong  man  armed  keejnng  his  palace.  There  sin,  like  a 
raging  tyrant,  sits  upon  his  flinty  throne,  armed  with  all 
the  deceptive  teachings  of  false  philosophy,  and  all  the 
discoveries  of  boasting  sciemte,  and  aided  by  all  the  powers 
of  evil,  and  in  full  alliance  with  the  prince  of  darkness, 
defying  heaven.    There  could  be  no  hope  in  the  case,    were 


LORD  OF  LIFE  AND  GLORY.  495 

it  not  that  there  is  a  stronger  than  he,  who  can  come 
upon  him,  and  take  from  him  his  armor  wherein  he 
trusted,  and  divide  his  spoil.  The  all-conquering-  son  of 
(iod  can  deliver  the  prey  out  of  the  teeth  of  the  mighty: 
as  he  set  at  liberty  the  poor  demoniac  of  Gadara.  These 
all  magnify  the  grace  of  God,  and  represent  the  conver- 
sion of  the  soul  to  be  his  work,  who  built  the  lofty  skies, 
and  spread  the  earth  abroad. 

The  views  of  Christ  entertained  by  his  redeemed  ones  are 
given  in  parables.  He  is  the  light  of  the  soul,  its  sun  with 
healing  in  its  beams.  He  is  its  shepherd.  A  king  is  too 
distant  a  personage,  never  known  to  his  subjects,  nor 
known  of  them.  Jesus  is  a  shepherd  knowing  his  own 
intimately,  calling  each  by  name;  and  known  of  them.  His 
sheep  are  never  driven,  but  led;  he  himself  going  before 
them  whether  it  be  to  duty  or  to  death.  The  life  of  the 
shepherd  is  devoted  to  his  flock:  he  leads  them  to  pas- 
ture, defends  them  from  enemies,  secures  them  in  the  fold 
at  night,  and  has  been  known  to  give  his  life  for  them. 

Jesus  is  the  vine;  believers  are  the  branches.  He  is  the 
life-root  of  humanity,  as  Adam  ^vas  its  death-root.  The 
whole  oflice  of  the  vine  is  to  minister  life  and  support  to 
the  branches.  The  Holy  Spirit  is  the  life-giving  sap  flow- 
ing from  the  root  to  every  branch  and  to  every  leaf,  each 
of  which  has  a  direct  and  vital  connection  with  the  root. 
Men  become  branches  by  ingrafting  or  inoculation. 

Several  describe  the  fruits  of  conversion,  as  that  of  the 
tree  and  its  fruit.  The  good  tree  of  the  Hol^^  Spirit  cannot 
bear  corrupt  fruit;  while  the  corrupt  tree  of  human  nature 
cannot  bear  good  fruit.  The  tree  is  known  by  its  fruit. 
The  only  way  to  make  a  corrupt  tree  good  is  to  engraft  a 
scion  of  heavenly  growth ;  and  in  time  cut  away  the  whole 
original  head.  This  takes  place  in  regeneration  and  sancti- 
fication.  The  tree,  that  bears  no  good  fruit  after  everj" 
encouragement  of  culture,  is  to  be  cut  down  as  a  cumberer 
of  the  ground.  God  may  wait  upon  it  for  years,  but  the 
decree  will  go  forth  against  it. 

Salt  is  good  while  it  retains  its  saltness ;  should  it  lose 
its  savor,  it  is  not  even  fit  for  the  dunghill,  but  men  cast 
it  out. 


496  VICTOR    OVER   DEATH   AND   THE    GRAVE. 

('hristiaiis  are  to  give  light;  they  are  as  lamps  which 
Christ  has  lighted.  Having  first  the  inward  hght,  they 
must  radiate  it  in  their  spheres.  Men  understand  that  the 
light  is  of  heavenly  origin,  and  glorify  our  Father  which  is 
in  heaven. 

Another  result  of  conversion  is  growth  of  the  divine  seed. 
A  living  seed  will  surely  grow.  First  comes  the  tiny  blade 
becoming  strong  enough  to  support  an  ear,  and  afterwards 
appears  the  full  corn  in  the  ear.  Conversion  is  the  intro- 
duction of  the  germ  of  a  new  life  which  will  in  time  take 
possession  of  the  whole  being. 

This  is  again  represented  by  the  mustard  seed  which 
from  being  the  smallest  of  seeds  becomes  a  shrub  emulat- 
ing a  tree,  and  affording  shelter  to  the  birds.  This  heavenly 
germ  has  the  activit}^  and  pervasiv^eness  of  leaven;  a  small 
portion  of  which,  hidden  in  the  body  of  meal,  soon  discloses 
its  presence,  and  affects  every  particle  of  the  mass.  So  the 
religion  of  (Christ  has  a  vitalit^^  by  which  it  penetrates  the 
whole  subject. 

Another  fruit  is  prayer,  real,  importunate  and  prevailing, 
to  which  all  others  than  Christians  are  strangers.  The 
parables  illustrating  this  are  the  importunate  friend  ask- 
ing loaves,  and  the  importunate  widow,  who  without  in- 
fluence or  support  has  none  to  appl}^  to  but  a  judge  desti- 
tute of  feeling  for  men  or  care  for  God ;  nevertheless  she 
prevails  by  sheer  importunity.  The  point  of  the  parable  is 
that  in  the  estimation  of  the  world  God  is  as  forbidding  a 
sovereign  as  the  unjust  judge;  a  being  in  whom  there  is 
nothing  encouraging  us  to  approach  him.  There  is  pathos 
in  the  in(]uiry:  "when  he  cometh  "  to  bless  "shall  he  find 
faith?'"  No;  he  must  bless  us  in  our  unbelief,  or  not  at 
all.  Want  of  faith  in  those  who  apply  to  him  is  still  the 
sad  complaint,  as  it  was  while  he  was  with  men  on  the 
earth  two  thousand  years  ago. 

Still  another  fruit  of  Christianity  is  works  of  aid  to  our 
fellow-men ;  illustrated  by  the  parable  of  the  good  Samari- 
tan, teaching  us  to  look  upon  every  man,  and  deal  with 
him  as  a  brother;  be  he  a  stranger,  or  of   a   hostile  race. 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORV.  497 

The  church  of  Christ  contributes  thus  miUions  of  aid  by 
way  of  charity  to  missions.  It  is  the  only  rehgion  bear- 
ino"  this  fruit. 

A  Christian  is  to  be  hke  the  unjust  steward,  scattering; 
his  master's  goods  without  the  restraint  of  personal  own- 
ership. He  gives  to  his  Lord  what  is  his  own;  himself 
being  but  a  steward,  liable  at  any  moment  to  be  dispos- 
sessed. 

His  attitude  is  to  be  that  of  one  who  is  watching  for  the 
return  of  his  absent  lord,  who  may  at  any  moment  sur- 
prise him  by  the  announcement  of  his  presence,  and  a  call 
for  his  accounts.  The  one,  who  hoards  his  possessions  for 
his  own  enjoyment,  refusing  utterly  to  distribute  for  the 
honor  of  God  and  good  of  men,  is  taking  a  perilous  po- 
sition. Provoked  by  his  avarice,  God  may  suddenly  call 
him  awa^^,  branding  him  upon  the  forehead  as  it  were, 
"thou  fool.'" 

Many  describe  the  separations  of  the  last  day.  1  he  net 
is  cast  into  the  sea,  and  gathers  of  every  kind;  the  good 
are  retained,  the  bad  are  cast  away. 

The  five  foolish  virgins,  who  made  no  adequate  prepara- 
tion for  their  wa,tch,  are  excluded  from  the  entertainment. 

The  tares,  undistinguishable  from  the  precious  wheat  un- 
til the  fruit  made  its  appearance,  are  gathered  and  cast 
into  the  fire. 

Of  the  two  sons,  one  labored  in  his  father's  vineyard 
after  bluntly  refusing  at  first.  The  other,  though  full  of 
promise,  did  not  only  not  obey,  but  refused  to  repent  after 
seeing  his  brother's  compliance,  and  thus  proved  himself 
incorrigible,  and  a  proper  subject  for  rejection. 

The  two  parables  of  the  talents  and  the  pounds,  or  the 
one  parable  varied  to  suit  varying  occasions,  illustrates 
the  rigid  scrutiny  awaiting  the  professed  servants  of  God, 
and  the  consequent  rewards  and  punishments.  They  closely 
discriminate  character;  and  assign  corresponding  accept- 
ance or  censure.  The  pounds  were  distributed  to  each  ''ac- 
cording to  his  several  ability;"  and  the  rewards  followed 
according  to  each  man's  several  capacity.  There  was  a 
difference  of  measure  between  the  vessels  of  service:  but 
each  capacity  was  filled. 
—32 


498  VICTOR    OVER   DEATH   AND   THE    GRAVE. 

Another  parable,  that  of  the  laborers  hired  into  the  vine- 
yard at  different  hours,  seems  to  teach  that  all  shall  be 
rewarded  alike:  "to  every  man  a  penny;''  alike  in  that 
each  man's  joy  shall  be  full.  The  unprofitable  servant 
meets  only  rebuke  and  loss. 

The  clearest  revelation,  however,  of  the  retributions  of 
the  future  is  afforded  by  the  parable  of  the  rich  man  and 
Lazarus.  When  our  Lord  would  set  before  us  a  picture  of 
the  world  of  woe,  he  does  not  select  as  the  sufferer  some 
vile  malefactor  abhorred  and  rejected  from  human  society; 
but  one  from  the  highest  and  most  respectable  class;  a 
rich  man  living  in  lavish  luxury,  against  whom  nothing- 
can  be  said,  except  that  he  showed  no  compassion  toward 
the  poor  and  helpless  object  lying  a€  his  gate,  and  iighting'^ 
with  the  dogs  for  the  crumbs  thrown  out.  And  he  selects 
for  his  example  of  a  favorite  of  heaven,  next  to  Abraham 
himself,  a  poor  outcast  beggar,  whom  none  but  the  dogs 
pitied  and  fellowshiped.  Such  is  the  judgment  of  heaven 
on  behalf  of  one  from  the  lowest  class,  as  against  one 
whom  the  world  respected  and  flattered.  The  poor  beggar 
is  accepted;  and  the  rich  Pharisee  is  rejected,  to  be  fuel  for 
the  eternal  flange.  The  parable  was  spoken  in  the  audience 
of  the  very  class  described  in  it ;  and  came  to  them  with  a 
close  application,  from  which  there  was  no  escape.  This  is 
ever  an  unwelcome  subject ;  and  our  Lord's  emphasis  of 
perdition  was  in  words  which  no  man  would  dare  to  use, 
foretelling  a  ruin  surpassing  in  its  horrors  all  that  eye  has 
seen,  or  ear  lieardr;  or  that  it  ever  entered  into  the  heart 
of  man  to  conceive.  He  is  the  only  messenger  ever  come 
from  the  great  unseen. 

Then  there  were  subjects,  the  simple  mention  of  which  was 
followed  by  tumult;  and  made  things  to  wear  a  threaten- 
ing appearance  immediately.  Such  was  the  personality  of 
our  Lord ;  and  the  rejection  of  the  nation  for  their  rejec- 
tion of  him.  Both  these  subjects  angered  the  Jews  to  a 
white  heat.  For  less  offensive  declarations,  prophets  had 
been  slaughtered. 

The  parable  of  the  husbandmen  and  the  vineyard  may 
almost  be  called  an  Old  Testament  parable;  it  was  so  sim- 
ilar to  one  uttered  by  Isaiah  v.  ch.;  and  it  was  evidently  well 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  499 

understood  by  all  who  heard  it.  Our  Lord  added  to  it 
circumstances  suiting-  the  assembly  before  him,  and  the 
occasion;  which  required  no  interpreter.  All  perceived  that 
it  plainly  stated  the  divine  sonship  of  the  speaker,  and  the 
rejection  of  the  chosen  people;  and  it  must  have  been 
listened  to  with  suppressed  passion;  and  must  have  fallen 
upon  their  hearts  like  a  lash  upon  nal'ed  and  quivering- 
flesh. 

Then  the  similar  parable,  of  the  king  making  a  marriage 
feast  for  his  son,  conveyed  the  same  hated  truths.  Jesus 
himself  was  the  king's  son,  and  avenged  the  insult  to  his 
messengers  by  ''sending  forth  his  armies,  and  destroying 
those  murderers,  and  burning  up  their  city." 

The  story  of  the  stone  which  the  builders  rejected  is  said 
to  have  been  a  real  incident  in  the  construction  of  Solo- 
mon's temple;  and  doubtless  was  such,  or  it  would  not 
have  been  used  by  the  master.  The  rejected  stone  became 
the  crown  and  complement  of  the  whole  work.  As  he  used 
the  incident,  it  represented  the  stone  of  stumbling,  over 
which  Israel  fell;  and  he  significantly^  added:  "on  whom- 
soever it  shall  fall  it  will  grind  him  to  powder,"  thus  pre- 
dicting the  utter  ruin  of  those  wdio  opposed  him.  Here  no 
interpreter  was  needed.  He  was  protected  by  the  parabolic 
form  of  his  speech ;  but  the  fear  of  him  was  certainly  upon 
the  people.  A  smothered  volcano  was  under  his  feet;  but 
his  hour  had  not  come. 

The  parable  of  the  nobleman  going  to  a  far  countr3^  to 
receive  for  himself  a  kingdom,  and  to  return,  was  appro- 
priately delivered  at  Jericho,  as  that  was  the  point  from 
which  Archelaus  commenced  his  journey  to  Rome.  The  slay- 
ing of  those  who  opposed  his  accession  was  undoubtedly  a 
fact.  It  was  impossible  to  misunderstand  the  parable. 
Jesus  was  to  be  king;  and  his  enemies  were  to  be  slain. 
Indeed,  about  this  time  he  openly  spoke  of  himself  as  king 
without  a  parable.    Matt,  xxv:   31-40. 

The  parable  of  the  unclean  spirit  who  left  his  house,  and 
found  no  rest  elsewhere;  and  returning  found  it  swept  and 
garnished,  but  without  an  occupant;  and  took  with  him 
seven  other  spirits  more  wicked  than  himself,  and  entering 
in  dwelt  there,  belongs  to  this  place,  as  describing  results 


500  VICTOR   OV'EU   DEATH   AND   THE    GRAVE. 

theu  appearing.  That  generation,  seeming  for  a  time  to  be 
outwardly  reformed,  became  sevenfold  worse  in  moral  de- 
generacy; and  thus  ripe  for  the  destruction  which  awaited 
them,  and  which  was  delayed  for  forty  years  by  the  inter- 
cession of  him  whom  they  crucified. 

We  are  overcome  with  amazement  at  the  unparalleled 
boldness,  prudence,  skill  and  tact  of  the  great  teacher.  He 
certainly  was  the  beau  ideal  of  all  that  is  lovely,  com- 
manding and  admirable  in  human  character.  While  an- 
nouncing in  the  plainest  terms  truths,  which  could  be  re- 
ceived b^'  a  Jewish  assembly  only  with  heart-burnings  and 
gnashing  of  teeth;  he  was  yet  unharmed.  The  fear  of  him 
imposed  an  invincible  restraint.  Even  this  barrier  was  at 
length  overcome  however;  for  their  rage  against  him  rose 
to  a  flood-tide  of  desperation  which  swept  aside  all  ob- 
structions; and  brought  them  into  deadly  assault  upon 
him.  In  many  of  these  brief  and  life-like  delineations  him- 
self is  the  central  figure;  standing  forth  in  all  the  inde- 
scribable yearnings  of  that  love,  which  brought  him  from 
the  skies,  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost. 

In  others  he  covers  the  whole  history  of  the  kingdom  of 
God  in  the  soul  of  man;  from  the  first  movement  of  re- 
turn to  its  allegiance  to  its  God  and  king,  onward.  All  is 
comprised  in  a  very  small  compass;  but  volumes  are  re- 
quired for  its  exposition.  They  are  mines  of  condensed 
truth,  suited  to  that  time  and  that  people;  but  equally  to 
all  times  and  all  people.  The^^  are  gems  of  glittering  light 
in  the  firmament  of- truth.  The  whole  gospel  is  contained 
in  them;  and  from  them  the  way  of  life  can  be  learned, 
with  descriptions  of  the  whole  journey. 


LORD   OF    LIFE   AND   GLORY.  501 


CHAPTER  XLVi. 


DID  OUR  LORD  TEACH  IN  HEBREW  OR  IN  GREEK? 


Critical. 


This  is  a  very  interesting  as  well  as  an  important  question. 
It  is  desirable  to  know  if  we  have  his  own  words  just  as 
they  fell  from  his  lips;  or  are  receiving  a  translation  of 
them  at  second  hand.  There  are  reasons  for  believing  that 
he  taught  in  the  same  dialect  in  which  they  are  recorded. 
While  Jerusalem  was  the  religious  capital  of  the  Jewish 
race;  and  its  inhabitants  retained  with  prejudice  their  own 
Aramaic;  so  that  Greek  was  rarely  spoken  there,  as  is 
learned  from  Acts  xxvii,  37-40;  yet  their  really  chief  city, 
the  headquarters  of  their  industrial  and  commercial  life, 
was  Alexandria  in  Egy])t.  It  held  a  prominence  such  as  is 
enjoyed  by  Chicago,  in  Illinois,  and  New  York  City,  in  New 
York.  It  was  the  hive  of  their  industries,  the  centre  of 
their  activities,  the  seat  of  learning  and  culture.  Its  stand- 
ing as  a  seat  of  letters  was  more  eminent  than  its  posi- 
tion as  a  mart  of  commerce;  and  its  Greek  diffused  itself 
as  the  language  of  cultivation,  as  well  as  of  business  and 
trade.  Of  course  it  could  never  supplant  the  Hebrew  in 
Jerusalem  and  Judea,  where  the  continuance  of  the  ancient 
institutions  demanded  the  perpetuation  of  the  sacred  lan- 
guage, it  being  the  home  of  their  worship.  But  as  a  con- 
sequence the  Greek  language  was  encroaching  continually ; 
and  prevailed  in  Galilee  of  the  Gentiles,  possibly. 

It  is  a  tradition  of  the  third  or  fourth  century  that  the 
gospel  by  Matthew  was  originally  written  in  Hebrew ;  and 
that  in  it  alone  were  the  exact  words  of  tiie  Savior  re- 
corded. Had  this  been  the  case,  the  instrinsic  value  of  the 
gospel  would  have  secured  its  perpetuation  ;   as  to  every- 


i">02  VICTOR   OVER    DEATH  AND  THE  GRAVE. 

thing-  connected  in  the  remotest  manner  with  the  master, 
the  Christian  heart  vibrates  like  the  ,Eohan  harp  to  the 
slightest  breath  of  wind. 

There  is,  however,  internal  evidence  that  our  gospel  is 
not  a  translation.  If  a  Hebrew  gospel  existed,  which  no 
one  will  pronounce  impossible,  it  is  the  translation,  and  the 
Greek  the  original.  Had  Matthew  written  in  Hebrew, 
ever^'^  citation  from  the  Old  Testament  would  have  been 
given  in  the  identical  Hebrew  words  of  inspiration ;  which 
the  translatoi-,  who  is  but  a  verbal  copjdst,  would  have 
rendered  closely.  This  method  of  quotation,  however,  is 
not  the  method  of  the  first  gospel.  The  quotations  are 
rather  paraphrases  than  translations.  The  words  and 
sometimes  the  sense  is  varied:  there  is  no  trace  of  adher- 
ence to  the  Hebrew.  Neither  does  he  follow  the  Septuagint 
closely.  An  example  is  the  quotation  from  Micah.  v:  1, 
which  the  Septuagint  renders:  "But  thou  Bethlehem  Eph- 
ratah,  though  thou  be  little  among  the  princes  of  Judah." 
But  ^lattliew  gives  it:  "But  thou  Bethlehem  in  the  land 
of  Judah,  art  not  the  least  among  the  princes  of  Judah," 
varying  both  the  words  and  the  sense. 

This  manner  of  quotation  proves  satisfactorily,  that  the 
Greek  is  not  a  translation  of  an  earlier  Hebrew  document; 
but  the  work  of  the  apostle  himself;  as  no  translator 
would  take  such  liberty'  with  the  inspired  text.  Matthew 
himself  is  then  the  author  of  the  Greek  gospel  bearing  his 
name:  even  if  he  himself  issued  a  Hebrew  version  in  his 
da}-. 

Matthew's  method  is  the  more  striking  from  the  fact, 
that  when  he  repeats  Christ's  own  citations,  he  adheres 
closely  to  the  Septuagint.  When  it  is  affirmed,  that  our 
Lord's  quotations  of  scripture  were  made  from  the  Sep- 
tuagint: it  is  not  to  be  understood  that  he  adhered  rigidly 
to  every  word  of  the  Greek.  At  times  he  varied  for  cause. 
Hf*  took  the  same  liberty  with  the  Hebrew:  as  when  on 
the  cross  he  repeated  the  first  verse  of  the  twenty-second 
psalm,  he  substituted  a-  common  and  intelligible  word 
Sabachthani  for  an  obsolete  one. 

What  can  be  aflFlrmed  is,  that  he  so  far  adhered  to  the 
words  of  the  seventy;  as  to  show  that  theirs  was  the  book 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   fILORY.  503 

he  used.  Indeed  he  follows  the  Septuagint  where  it  varies 
from  the  Hebrew,  erroneously,  too.  As  an  instance,  he  was 
in  the  synag'Og-ue  of  Nazareth  on  the  day  of  atonement, 
and  stood  up  and  read  a  portion  of  verses  assigned  to 
him,  contained  in  Is.  LXI  of  King  James'  bible.  He  read 
it  verbatim  et  literatum  as  it  stands  in  the  Septuagint;  re- 
taining the  phrase  incorrectly  translated,  "the  recovering 
of  sight  to  the  blind."  The  sentiment,  however,  was  unob- 
jectionable, and  was  therefore  retained;  he  added,  however, 
the  correct  rendering  of  the  phrase:  "to  set  at  liberty 
them  that  are  bruised."  There  is  no  escape  from  the  ad- 
mission that  he  was  reading  from  the  Septuagint  Bible, 
giving,  however,  to  the  Hebrew  the  supreme  authority. 

This  is  one  among  many  evidences,  that  the  seventy 
translators  were  much  more  familiar  with  the  Greek,  than 
they  were  with  their  own  Hebrew  dialect.  Their  Aversion  is 
defective  throughout,  and  undeniably  so,  on  account  of 
their  ignorance  of  Hebrew.  A  smatterer  might  translate 
laasoorhn  pekah  koh,  recovery  of  sight  to  the  blind, 
assoorim  never  meaning  blind.  To  such  an  extent  had  the 
Greek  supplanted. 

Our  Lord  would  not  probably  read  in  a  language  only 
partially  understood  by  the  audience,  and  requiring  the 
assistance  of  a  Targumist  ever  at  the  side  of  the  reader, 
to  render  into  the  vernacular  the  obscurities  of  the  ancient 
language.  Now,  when  we  find  in  all  Christ's  quotations 
from  the  Jewish  scriptures,  by  whatever  evangelist,  even 
by  Matthew,  who  takes  the  greatest  liberty  of  citation,  a 
close  adherence  to  the  words  of  the  Greek  bible,  a  strong- 
argument  is  encountered  in  favor  of  his  habitual  use  of 
that  language  in  his  teaching.  It  can  but  be  asked,  was 
not  the  Septuagint  the  volume  used  in  the  synagogue  of 
Nazareth  ? 

It  is  admitted  that  inspiration,  in  order  to  be  plenary, 
must  be  verbal.  The  promise  made  to  the  disciples,  was 
that  the  Holy  Ghost  should  bring  all  things  to  their  re- 
membrance, whatsoever  Jesus  had  said  unto  them.  If  our 
Savior  delivered  his  instructions  in  Hebrew,  it  was  not  only 
necessary  to  revive  the  recollection  of  the  words  used  by 
him;  but  also  to  suggest  suitable  words  in  another  tongue 


504  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH   AND   THE   GKAVE. 

not  kindred.  JBringino*  to  remembrance  was  but  a  small 
part  of  the  work.  The  supposition  that  they  heard  in  one 
language,  and  reported  in  another,  seems  to  remove  the 
Savior  to  a  greater  distance  from  us.  That  he  should 
choose  for  the  vehicle  of  his  instructions  a  dialect  restricted 
in  its  territorial  extent,  suffering  continual  change,  to  the 
rejection  of  another  universal  in  its  dissemination,  at  the 
zenith  of  its  purit}^  does  not  commend  itself  to  our  judg- 
ment. Knowing  that  his  gospel  would  be  perpetuated  in 
the  Greek  to  the  end  of  time,  is  it  not  reasonable  to  sup- 
pose that  his  instructions  would  be  delivered  in  that  lan- 
guage, which  w^as  to  convey  his  doctrines  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  and  through  all  the  revolving  periods  of  its  history? 
The  Hebrew  was  the  language  of  a  hated  people ;  the  Greek 
pervaded  the  world,  farther  even  than  the  Roman  eagles 
had  flown.  Can  it  be  thought  that  his  gospel  would  b& 
committed  to  a  tongue  destined  shortly  to  be  modified 
and  lost  in  the  dispersion  and  demoralization  of  those  who 
used  it;  until  Jews  from  different  parts  of  the  same  conti- 
nent hardly  understand  one  another  in  their  own  mother 
tongue  ? 

The  use  of  the  Greek  language  in  Israel  was  far  more  ex- 
tensive than  is  generally  admitted.  The  possession  of  an 
authorized  version  of  the  Scriptures  in  a  form  intelligible 
to  the  mass  of  the  people,  would  contribute  more  than  any 
single  cause  to  the  propagation  of  the  language.  This 
bible  had  been  in  their  hands  for  two  hundred  and  fifty 
years,  and  had  won  its  way  to  general  acceptance.  And 
then  their  religious  rterature  had  for  all  those  years  been 
in  Greek,  and  Greek. only;  as  the  apocryphal  books  demon- 
strate. There  were  no  longer  any  fresh  Hebrew  writings 
except  the  Talmuds:  records  composed  one  at  Jerusalem 
and  another  at  Bab3ion  by  their  priests  and  rabbis. 

The  Greek  had  become  the  language  of  their  religion. 
Even  the  name,  by  which  their  supreme  council  was  desig- 
nated, was  no  longer  Hebrew;  but  Greek:  Sanhedrin. 

The  prevalence  of  Greek  in  domestic  use  can  be  infallibly 
ascertained  by  the  pro])ortion  of  Greek  names  found  among 
the  families.  Such  were  Andrew,  Philip,  Stephen,  Nicode- 
mus,  Apollos,  Sosthenes  and  others,  occurring  in  the  his- 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  505 

tory.  Many  had  two  names,  a  Hebrew  and  a  Greek ;  as 
Simon  Peter,  Jolm  Mark,  Herod  Antipas,  Herod  Philip, 
Jesus,  who  is  called  Justus.  Now  when  a  languao'e  has  in- 
vaded a  community,  until  the  common  people  adopt  it  in 
naming  their  children,  it  has  come  near  usurping  the  place 
of  the  national  tongue.  At  all  events  in  such  cases,  it  had 
become  the  language  of  the  household. 

The  reasonable  desire  of  the  church  is  to  hear  the  very 
words  which  Jesus  spoke;  and  we  have  them  in  the  gospels 
just  as  his  lips  delivered  them.  !So  great  is  the  verbal 
identity  of  the  discourses  recorded  by  Matthew  and  Mark, 
that  one  seems  an  epitome  of  the  other.  But  the  univer- 
sal voice  of  tradition  is  that  they  are  the  work  of  inde- 
pendent authors,  written  in  different  parts  of  the  world, 
and  for  different  readers.  Their  agreement  shows,  that 
the  writers  are  remembering  by  inspiration,  and  reporting 
the  identical  words  of  the  master.  The  same  agreement 
appears  in  the  narrative  of  Luke.  When  he  repeats  the 
history  of  an  incident  related  by  the  others,  the  words  at- 
tributed by  him  to  the  master  are  often  identical  with  those 
furnished  by  the  former  historians,  The  correspondence  is 
sufficient  for  a  strong  conviction. 

Variations  are  found,  as  for  instance  in  the  Lord's  prayer; 
but  not  greater  than  Jesus  himself  would  make  on  different 
occasions;  as  he  probably  repeated  it  more  than  once. 
Those  variations  may  have  been  intentional;  to  teach  us 
not  to  rel3^  upon  rigid  compliance  with  any  cast-iron  form 
of  words.  We  are  not  to  pray  in  these  words,  but  "after 
this  manner.'"  The  greatest  diversity  between  the  two  ac- 
counts is  the  omission  of  the  doxology  by  Luke.  But  it  is 
not  wise  to  repudiate  the  doxology  on  this  account.  An- 
cient transcribers  have  unquestionably  dropped  from  the 
record  verses  and  larger  portions  which  seemed  to  them 
objectionable ;  but  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  they  would 
dare  to  foist  into  the  text  words  unauthorized  and  unin- 
spired in  face  of  the  curse  contained  in  Rev.  xxii:  18-19. 
The  accepted  canon  of  criticism,  which  asserts  the  possi- 
bility of  such  addition,  is  not  trustworthy.  In  other  words, 
there  is  sufficient  authority  for  the  doxology  in  the  fact, 
that  it  occurs  in  the  gospel  written  by  Matthew. 


506  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE. 

It  is  uot  easily  supposable  that  the  prayer  was  given 
originallj'  in  Aramaic  in  words  long  since  lost,  to  be  per- 
petuated to  the  end  of  time  in  a  translation.  Our  Lord 
would  certainly  give  the  form  of  praj^er,  which  w^as  to 
endure. 

The  following  arguments  seem  sufficient  to  establish  that 
our  Savior,  from  the  beginning  of  his  ministr3%  generally 
made  use  of  the  Greek  language  in  his  instructions. 

1.  The  terminology  of  the  new  dispensation  was  to  be 
settled.  This  was  a  matter  of  vital  importance;  and  it 
surely  devolved  upon  him  to  determine  the  technical  words 
of  the  new  era.  Terms  were  to  be  fixed  proper  to  convey 
the  new  ideas.  The  preaching  of  the  Baptist  had  been 
doubtless  in  the  Aramaic:  Greek  terms  were  to  be  chosen 
to  express  the  Christian  ideas  of  faith,  repentance,  regener- 
a,tion,  humility,  salvation,  etc.,  and  who  was  to  settle  au- 
thoritatively the  new  nomenclature?  The  name  of  the 
office  of  the  twelve  was  to  be  selected;  and  it  is  stated 
that  our  Lord  chose  the  name  aoooGToXov?:.  Three  Hebrew 
words  suggest  themselves  at  once,  which  might  have  been 
properly  used  as  a  designation;  but  the  word  really  used 
is  lost,  if  it  were  ever  established  in  the  Hebrew  tongue. 
It  was  incumbent  on  him  also  to  determine  the  title  hy 
which  himself  would  be  known :  'o  jpzo-ro?.  Josephus  tells  us 
that  he  was  popularly  known  as  'o  jpioro?;  and  not  hy  the 
Hebrew  word  equivalent.  This  he  himself  undoubtedh'  de- 
termined. He  calls  himself  by  this  title;  when  at  CcPsarea- 
Philippi,  "he  charged  them,  that  they  should  tell  no  man; 
that  he  was  Jesus  the  Christ."  This  conversation  atCaesarea- 
Philippi  was  unquestionably  held  in  the  Greek  language. 
as  will  appear,  when  the  encomium  of  Peter  is  considered 
further  on. 

If  this  selection  of  appropriate  terms  were  made  in  the 
Hebrew ;  it  was  to  be  repeated  in  the  Greek :  the  former 
were  to  be  lost  and  forgotten ;  while  the  other  were  to  re- 
nmin  during  all  time.  It  is  impossible  to  overestimate  the 
importance  of  this  work.  One  of  the  greatest  difficulties 
encountered  by  missionaries  in  carrying  the  gospel  to 
heathen  tribes,  has  been  found  in  the  selection  of  the  words 
best  adapted  to  represent  the  ideas    of    Christianity.    The 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  507 

words  first  chosen  have  sometimes  been  relinquished  for 
others  less  objectionable  from  an  idolatrous  association. 
While  the  disciples  of  Jesus  were  .unaware  of  the  far-reach 
of  his  slightest  acts,  he  was,  with  full  survey  of  the  future, 
laying  foundation  stones  in  a  heathen  tongue,  to  receive 
the  superstructure  of  an  entire  theology.  If  he  selected  the 
term  acjoGtoXov?:,  as  it  is  expressly  stated  he  did,  he  fixed 
the  whole  Christian  vocabulary  in  that  language. 

2.  On  certain  occasions  he  held  interviews  with  those 
who  spoke  only  the  Greek.  That  such  a  one  was  Pontius 
Pilate  is  probable  from  Lu.  xxii :  6,  translated  in  the 
authorized  version:  "When  Pilate  heard  of  Galilee;"  liter- 
ally when  Pilate  heard  Galilee.  The  high  priest  had  prob- 
ably addressed  the  governor  in  Greek,  in  which  tongue  he 
was  not  as  fluent  as  when  he  stood  before  Herod,  and 
used  his  own  vernacular.  The  accusation  was  taken  up  by 
the  crowd:  "He  stirreth  up  the  people  from  Galilee." 
Pilate's  ear  caught  the  word  Galilee  repeated  by  every 
mouth.  This  word  he  would  easily  recognize,  if  he  did  not 
catch  distinctly  the  sense  of  the  complainants.  It  is  pos- 
sible that  he  did  not  understand  the  Hebrew  sufficiently  to 
conduct  a  conversation  in  it.  It  is  recorded  that  he  held 
an  interview  with  his  prisoner  in  private  within  the  hall, 
to  which  he  had  had  him  conducted ;  besides  addressing  to 
him  two  questions  in  public.  All  of  this  communication 
must  have  taken  place  in  Greek,  which  all  Roman  officers 
from  the  centurion  upward  were  able  to  use. 

xinother  instance  in  point  is  the  Syrophenician  woman, 
who  is  said  to  have  been  a  Greek.  It  is  difficult  to  discover 
why  she  is  so  called,  except  it  be  for  the  reason  that  this 
was  her  language.  The  names  Jew  and  Greek  included  the 
world ;  because  outside  of  Judea  all  spoke  Greek.  Had  she 
made  use  of  the  Phenician  dialect,  it  is  impossible  to  frame 
a  reason  for  calling  her  a  Greek.  The  conclusion  must  be 
that  the  intercourse  between  her  and  the  master  was  in 
Greek. 

Another  instance  which  confirms  this  argument  is  found 
in  John  xii.  Certain  Greeks,  veritable  heathen-born  Hel- 
lenes, not  Grecising  Jews,  not  being  able  to  understand 
Hebrew,    had    applied   to    Philip,    whose   vernacular   was 


508  VICTOR  OVER  DEATH   AND  THE   GRAVE. 

probably  Greek,  for  an  introduction  to  Jesns.  The  dis- 
course in  John  xii,  one  of  the  most  solemn  and  weighty, 
was  delivered  for  their  benefit,  and  addressed  to  them  per- 
sonally; that  in  the  few  words,  to  which  they  were  privi- 
leo'ed  to  listen,  they  might  take  with  them  the  g^reat  and 
only  doctrine  of  the  gospel.  "And  T,  if  I  be  lifted  up,  will 
draw  all  men  unto  me,''  might  have  been  most  appropri- 
ately uttered  in  the  Greek ;  and  the  response  of  the  Father 
from  the  sky  may  have  been  in  the  identical  Greek  words 
attributed  to  him.  Jesus  was  the  vindicator  of  the  Gen- 
tiles ;  in  the  subjects  of  his  miracles  he  made  no  distinction 
between  Jew  and  Gentile,  and  in  the  temple  he  twice  cleansed 
the  court  of  the  Gentiles. 

This  conclusion  is  fortified  by  those  passages,  in  which 
Hebrew  words  occur  untranslated.  If  our  Savior's  whole 
discourses  had  been  given  in  that  dialect,  no  such  isolated 
words  would  be  found.  If  he  taught  in  Greek,  and  intro- 
duced only  here  and  there  words  of  Hebrew;  they  would 
be  given  as  such  in  the  history:  just  for  the  same  reason 
and  in  the  same  manner  as  they  stand  untranslated  in  the 
English  bible.  Their  occurrence  is  proof,  that  he  was  speak- 
ing in  another  language,  and  introducing  Hebrew  expres- 
sions for  cause.  Examples  of  this  are  Ritca,  in  the  sermon 
on  the  mount,  a  term  of  reproach  audible  on  every  hand ; 
Corban,  a  thing  devoted,  a  technical  word,  and  Amen, 
Amen,  which  might  better  have  been  transferred  in  our  ver- 
sion than  translated.  Had  he  been  speaking  in  Hebrew 
and  used  these  words,  they  would  undoubtedly  have  been 
found  translated  in'^  the  Greek. 

Passages  of  the  gospel  history  contain  Jewish  colloquial : 
as  when  he  said  to  Jairus' little  daughter,  "Talitha  Cumi." 
Aramaic  was  the  language  of  the  household.  So  to  a  deaf 
and  dumb  man  brought  to  him  in  a  remote  region  of  the 
country,  he  said,  "Epphatha."  The  friends  from  his  na- 
tive village  used  this  language.  These  words  of  colloquial 
Hebrew  are  reported ;  because  it  was  not  his  custom  to  use 
that  language. 

His  prayer  in  Gethsemane  was  addressed  to  Ahha  n  nanjp. 
He  was  evidently  praying  in  the  Gi-eek;  and  used  a  word 
of  familiar  endeai'ment  from  the  Hebrew,  which  stands  un- 


LORD  OF  LIFE   AND  GLORY.  509 

translated  in  the  Greek  account,  just  as  it  does  in  the  Eng- 
lish gospel,  and  for  the  same  reason.  His  exclamation  on 
the  cross,  "Eli!  Eli!  lama  sabachthani,"  was  uttered  in  the 
words  of  David  to  call  attention  to  that  22d  Psalm,  which 
gave  a  view  of  the  scene  then  transpiring  as  vivid  and  dis- 
tinct as  if  taken  by  an  observer  on  the  spot;  and  the  words, 
"it  is  finished,''  he  uttered  in  Greek,  rersXeffTai:  they  would 
have  been  given  in  Hebrew,  had  he  uttered  them  in  that 
tongue.  An  additional  reason  exists  for  affirnnng  that  he 
committed  his  soul  into  his  Father's  hands  in  words  of 
Greek;  because  the  words  are  a  literal  quotation  from 
the  Septuagint. 

Some  eminent  linguists,  unable  to  concede  that  our  Sa- 
vior taught  in  Greek,  must  translate  his  words  back  into 
the  Hebrew,  in  order  to  interpret  them  correctly.  One  of 
such,  at  a  certain  time,  delivered  a  seminary  lecture  on  the 
word  avoo^ev,  John  iii :  3,  on  the  ground  that  the  word 
ased  by  Christ  was  Mimniaul,  (from  heaven)  when  Nicodemus 
correctly  understood  it  to  mean  "a  second  time,''  as  though 
much  depended  on  our  having  the  identical  words  of  the 
interview.  These  we  do  have  unquestionably.  Such  a  course 
is  to  mystify,  and  not  to  interpret. 

Other  passages  might  be  named,  not  included  in  this 
classification,  which  strongly  prove  that  our  Savior  used 
the  Gentile  language  continually.  One  is  the  encomium 
bestowed  on  Peter  at  Caesarea  Philippi :  "Thou  art  Peter," 
not  Cephas,  as  would  have  been  the  designation  had  he 
been  speaking  in  Hebrew;  "and  on  this  rock  will  I  build 
my  church,"  The  beautiful  play  upon  the  words,  wholly 
lost  in  the  English,  but  very  effective  in  the  original  by 
reason  of  the  change  in  gender  and  form  impossible  to  be 
expressed  in  the  Hebrew,  demonstrate  that  he  was  as  usual 
speaking  in  the  Greek.  The  rock,  on  which  the  church  w^as 
to  be  built,  was  the  truth  confessed  by  Peter,  which  he  w^as 
firm  as  a  rock  in  believing.  Unstable  often  in  other  things, 
we  know  that  he  was;  in  his  conviction  of  this  truth,  he 
was  immovable,  as  the  pillars  of  the  sky. 

John  vi :  81,  is  another  passage  which  demonstrates  that 
our  Savior  used  the  Greek  in  his  vindication  of  himself  be- 
fore  the  council,   after    the  healing  of  the  impotent  man. 


510  VICTOR  OVER   DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE. 

"Search  the  scriptures."  The  expression  "scriptures"  is  of 
Greek  derivation,  the  Hebrew  language  having  no  word 
equivalent  to  ypacpai.  Neither  has  the  language  ever  pos- 
sessed a  word  exactly  translating  the  Greek  word  used  by 
the  evangelist.  Had  our  Lord  made  his  defense  in  Hebrew, 
he  would  have  said:  "Search  the  law,  and  the  prophets 
and  the  Psalms,"  and  could  not  have  expressed  his  mean- 
ing in  any  other  words.  This  most  solemn  and  weighty 
defense  must  then  have  been  made  in  Jerusalem,  and  before 
the  supreme  council  in  the  Gentile  language.  There  is  no 
apparent  escape  from  the  admission. 

Of  course  the  position  taken  in  this  paper  does  not  re- 
quire us  to  deny  that  he  sometimes,  perhaps  often,  used 
the  language  of  his  people.  When  Hebrew  was  the  family 
speech,  he  used  it.  In  villages  remote  from  the  centre,  and 
before  those  who  would  better  receive  his  instructions,  if 
delivered  in  the  sacred  language,  he  used  it.  Perhaps  in 
the  centres  where  the  Hebrew  yet  held  its  sway,  he  con- 
formed to  the  dialect  in  use.  But  his  discourses  come  to 
us  in  the  very  words  which  fell  from  his  lips.  No  further 
inspiration  was  required  by  the  historians  of  his  life,  than 
such  as  would  revive  the  remembrance  of  his  speech  as  dis- 
tinctly as  though  they  were  hearing  it  on  the  instant;  and 
would  preserve  them  in  their  selection  of  facts  and  instruc- 
tions from  error  of  judgment  as  to  what  was  needed  to  the 
end  of  time  by  the  world  for  its  salvation.  Such  clear  and 
vivid  recollection  has  in  some  instances  been  produced  b  '^ 
other  causes  than  inspiration. 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   (ILORY.  511 


CHAPTER  XL VI I. 


INDIVIDUALITY  OF  THE  EVANGELISTS. 


The  estimate,  which  the  world  forms  of  a  prominent  man's 
character,  depends  largely  upon  his  biographer.  If  he 
has  made  his  mark  upon  the  history  of  his  time,  that 
record  is  ineffaceable  and  is  known  and  read  of  all  men; 
but  tradition  busies  itself  with  all  that  goes  to  make  up 
his  personality;  his  youthful  training,  his  surroundings, 
the  influences  from  without,  as  well  as  the  impulses  from 
within,  which  make  him  what  he  is;  and  transfers  the  pic- 
ture to  the  tablets  of  history;  provided  the  individual  be 
of  sufficient  importance  to  justify  the  effort.  The  faithful- 
ness of  delineation  depends  upon  the  truth  and  impartiality 
of  the  recorder;  but  as  much  upon  his  capacity  to  com- 
prehend the  subject  of  his  memoir.  In  this  sense  no  human 
biographer  was  competent  to  furnish  a  full  account  of 
Jesus  of  Nazareth ;  as  being  too  multifold,  too  vast  in  all 
directions,  too  original  and  yet  too  simple.  After  the  at- 
tempt of  four  of  his  intimates  to  portray  him  failed  in  their 
own  view  to  convey  the  full  impression,  they  conclude  with 
the  apology  that  if  all  he  had  done  should  be  written,  the 
"world  could  not  contain  the  books  that  should  be 
written." 

Each  of  these  writers  had  his  own  conception  of  what 
constituted  the  ideal  of  all  excellence;  and  therefore  each 
has  given  the  leading  characteristics  of  what  to  him  formed 
the  brightness  of  the  glory  of  his  Lord's  appearance;  and 
it  may  be  useful  to  us  to  analyze  and  compare  their  im- 
pressions. The  attempt  will  give  us  a  fuller  view  of  the 
illustrious  subject. 

1.  The  principal  thing  before  the  mind  of  Matthew  was 
his  kingly  claim  and  corresponding  authority.  In  conse- 
quence he  in  the  very  first  place   traces  his   royal  descent; 


512         VICTOR  OVER  DEATH  AND  THE  (JRAVE. 

as  he  was  in  the  direct  line  of  the  kings  of  Judah,  throuo;h 
their  unbroken  succession  to  the  time  of  the  captivity: 
when  Jehoiachin's  son  born  in  Babylon  Salathiel  became 
the  heir  without  a  throne;  whose  son  Zerubbabel  was  the 
leader  of  the  returning  exiles,  though  he  did  not  assume 
the  title  of  king.  Yet  the  legal  succession  was  in  him,  and 
descended  by  primogeniture  to  Joseph  the  legal  and  reputed 
father  of  Jesus.  This  was  a  point  of  supreme  importance 
to  the  Jew.  for  whom  Matthew  seems  to  have  composed 
his  histor3^  He  further  related  how  Jesus  was  proclaimed 
King  of  the  Jews  in  the  very  court  of  Herod,  by  the  wise 
men  from  the  east;  the  justification  of  the  designation 
being  written  in  the  sky.  These  travelers  from  the  hoary 
east  understood  the  quality  of  his  kingdom ;  as  they  had 
come  ''to  worship  him.''  Like  the  true  heir  in  many 
another  instance,  perils  of  the  sword  force  him  from  his 
home  and  country,  to  be  a  wanderer  in  other  lands. 

Being  at  length  anointed  not  by  the  chrism  of  the  priest, 
or  the  holy  oil  of  earth,  but  by  the  Holy  Ghost  at  the 
hand  of  the  Father,  he  stands  forth  in  his  full  royalty  in- 
troducing "the  kingdom  of  heaven"  upon  earth,  a  phrase 
used  by  this  evangelist  only.  Jesus  has  the  power  to  bless, 
and  to  pronouce  authoritatively  who  ai-e  blessed  ;  and  to 
separate  the  precious  from  the  vile.  Expounding  the  law 
of  God  with  a  prerogative  becoming  its  giver,  the  people 
are  amazed  at  his  authority:  undistinguishable  from  that 
of  the  law  itself.  The  listeners  hear  the  tone  of  a  king  in 
his  words.  Not  only  do  his  precepts  take  hold  of  the  heart 
and  conscience  as  eternal  truth  and  riglit  alone  can;  but 
there  is  something  about  his  personality  that  astonishes 
all  who  approach  him.  His  individuality  possessed  a  weight 
such  as  never  attached  before  to  one  born  of  woman,  there 
was  in  him  a  force  of  character  that  is  utterly  inexplicable. 
Buried  under  a  thick  veil  of  humilit}^  concealed  beneath  an 
aspect  of  ineffable  kindness  and  love,  there  is  a  latent 
power  such  as  attends  no  human  majesty.  Every  hearer 
is  convinced  at  once  that  he  is  lord  of  the  conscience.  No 
miracle  or  sign  is  needed  to  authenticate  him;  his  creden- 
tials are  unquestionable :  the  heart  responds  to  him  at  once, 
and  (piivers  with  a  strange  adoration. 


LORD  OF  LIFE  AND   GLORY.  513 

Miracles,  however,  are  not  withheld ;  but  signs  and  wond- 
ers and  mighty  works  are  wrought  bj  him  on  everj'  occa- 
sion. In  Matthew's  account  of  them,  we  hear  the  sharp 
decisive  word  of  command  from  the  lips  of  the  master  all 
the  time.  His  words  are:  "i  will  be  then  clean."  "He 
€ast  out  the  spirits  with  his  word,"  ''he  rebuked  the  wind 
and  the  sea."  The  authority  of  the  centurion  of  Capernaum, 
illustrating  that  of  Christ,  is  more  sharplj^  decisive  than  in 
Luke;  and  everywhere  throughout  his  gospel,  the  prominent 
idea  is  that  of  Christ's  universal  power  exercised  at  his  will 
over  all  tne  departments  of  nature,  over  all  the  disorders  of 
humanity,  and  over  the  souls  as  well  as  the  bodies  of  men. 
With  the  word  of  a  king  there  is  power;  and  as  we  follow 
Matthew,  we  are  hearing  the  voice  of  authority  in  every 
act  effectual.  To  reject  the  testimon^^  of  these  miracles  is 
to  commit  the  unpardonable  blasphemy,  of  which  this 
evangelist  treats  at  greater  length,  detailing  the  occasion 
of  its  occurrence,  and  confirming  the  impression  that  he 
was  writing  especially  for  his  own  people. 

Some  things  fastened  themselves  in  his  memory,  which 
appear  to  have  been  overlooked  b3'  the  other  evangelists, 
relating  to  our  Savior's  description  of  himself.  He  asserts 
his  superiority  in  ways  full  of  meaning  to  the  Jew,  when 
he  claims  to  be  "greater  than  the  temple,"  and  "Lord  of 
the  Sabbath-day;"  its  institutor  and  sovereign.  Of  like 
force  to  the  Jew  were  his  words  describing  himself  as  greater 
than  Jonas,  at  whose  preaching  returned  from  the  dead,  the 
men  of  Nineveh  repented ;  not  a  greater  man  but  a  being  of 
a  different  order:  the  Greek  word  is  neuter.  So  he  pro- 
nounced himself  a  mere  foot  wanderer  greater  than  Solomon, 
their  wisest,  greatest  King:  not  a  greater  man  but  a  being 
of  a  higher  order.  The  Jew  would  feel  the  force  of  words 
like  these:  "Blessed  are  your  eyes,  for  they  see:  and  j^our 
ears,  for  they  hear.  For  verily,  I  say  unto  you  that  many 
prophets  and  righteous  men  have  desired  to  see  the  things 
which  ye  see,  and  have  not  seen  them;  and  to  hear  the 
things  which  ye  hear,  and  have  not  heard  them.'"  Others 
of  like  import  might  be  quoted :  they  struck  Matthew  \vith 


—33 


514        A^ICTOK  OVER  DEATH  AND  THE  GRAVE.   . 

peculiar  force,  as  did  everything-  relating  to  the  high  dignity 
of  his  master,  and  his  superiority  to  all  that  had  ever 
trodden  this  earth. 

This  evangelist  remembers  also  most  of  the  teachings  of 
our  Lord,  in  which  he  stands  out  revealed  as  the  final 
judge  of  quick  and  dead,  on  whose  decision  hangs  che  des- 
tiny of  every  human  being.  He  is  sovei'eign  of  a  kingdom 
which  dominates  the  invisible,  and  reaches  through  eternity. 
Reference  to  the  great  day  of  accounts  is  continually  sound- 
ing in  his  pages,  when  the  great  King  of  men  and  of  angels 
shall  settle  the  unchanging  doom  of  the  inhabitants  of  more 
than  our  little  world. 

In  the  history  of  the  last  eventful  days,  Matthew  gives  us 
a  glowing  account  of  the  regal  entry  into  Jerusalem.  Such 
a  welcome  as  was  accorded  his  master  was  never  o-iven  to 
the  mightiest  monarch  of  his  line,  entering  along  the  slope 
of  Olivet.  He  was  hailed  as  the  son  of  David  and  the  hope 
of  Israel ;  and  the  mighty  shout  aroused  the  city.  He  pub- 
Hcly  vindicated  the  title,  and  accepted  it,  and  justified  the 
children  who  filled  the  temple  with  their  "  God  save  the  son, 
of  David."  We  hear  him  even  naming  himself  King.  Matt. 
XXV :  84-40  and  xxii:  2.  The  apostle  proceeds  to  relate  how 
the  opposers  were  overpowered  by  the  simple  personal 
presence  of  Jesus;  and  how  they  came  to  him  in  the  most 
imposing  array  as  rulers  of  the  temple  and  directors  of  the 
sacred  things,  demanding :  "By  what  authority  doeth  thou 
these  things?  who  gave  thee  this  authority?"  and  how  they 
slunk  away  for  fear  of  being  stoned  by  the  people,  if  they 
had  spoken  outrighlwhat  they  might  have  privately  avowed. 
Such  ready  and  overwhelming  answers  to  gainsayers  never 
issued  from  human  lips. 

When  the  story  of  his  death  is  reached,  Matthew  adds 
some  ])articulars  to  the  account,  being  testimonies  to  the 
divine  majesty  of"  the  sufferer,  such  as  the  immediate  and 
awful  suicide  of  Judas,  the  divine  warning  to  Pilate  through 
his  wife,  Pilate's  solemn  washing  of  his  hands  before  the 
multitude,  and  his  vain  protest  against  the  condemnation; 
and  he  describes  more  fully  than  the  others  the  prodigies 
accompanying  the  death,  which  were  true  portents,  and 
never  occurred  in  connection  with  any  other  event. 


LORD  or  LIFE  AND  GLORY.  515 

He  gives  us  a  most  vivid  picture  of  the  resurrection 
scene,  and  while  he  does  not  narrate  the  ascension,  em- 
phasizes the  last  command  to  preach  the  gospel  to  all 
nations  with  the  promise  of  his  perpetual  presence  with  the 
church  to  the  end  of  the  world ;  so  that  it  stands  out  with 
the  utmost  distinctness,  as  the  orders  of  a  king,  to  whom 
all  power  is  given  in  heaven  and  on  earth.  In  his  setting- 
aside  the  traditions  so  relio:iously  observed  by  the  Jews, 
and  his  interpretation  of  the  clean  and  the  unclean,  and  of 
marriage  and  divorce,  our  Lord  was  deciding  judicially  as 
a  King,  and  enunciating  principles  which  will  shape  human 
society  the  world  over,  and  regulate  it  to  the  end  of  time. 
It  is  generally  conceded  that  this  evangelist  relates  events 
in  the  true  order  of  their  occurrence,  not  beginning,  how- 
ever, with  the  commencement  of  Christ's  ministry,  but  just 
before  his  own  call  to  the  apostolate,  which  did  not  take 
place  until  about  a  year  later. 

There  is  in  this  gospel  an  elevation  of  tone  that  is  unsur- 
passed, and  a  continual  homage  to  Jesus  Christ  that  carries 
all  hearts  with  it.  The  heart  of  the  writer  was  burning  all 
the  time  with  devotion  to  the  holy  master,  whom  he  was 
describing;  and  his  soul  was  on  fire  with  the  sublimest  con- 
ceptions of  his  divine  majesty.  As  his  story  is  read  with 
any  degree  of  sympathy,  the  soul  of  the  reader  is  caught 
up  as  it  were  in  the  chariots  of  Amminadib ;  and  a  deep  in- 
sight is  gained  into  the  glory  of  the  King,  whom  God  has 
set  upon  his  holy  hill  of  Zion. 

2.  The  next  gospel  in  the  order  is  that  of  Mark,  which 
appears  on  a  cursory  reading  to  be  but  an  epitome  of  the 
publican's  history;  but  on  closer  examination  proves  quite 
otherwise:  it  furnishes  in  some  of  its  reports  of  the  words 
of  the  Master  valuable  amplifications,  and  brings  to  our 
notice  two  miracles  not  related  by  either  of  the  other 
evangelists.  In  the  account  also  of  many  of  the  mighty 
works,  this  writer  is  found  to  have  added  here  and  there  a 
new  particular  not  contained  in  the  other  histories,  and  in 
every  case  this  addition  is  the  very  cream  of  the  whole  de- 
scription. To  the  story  of  the  others  Mark  appends  per- 
haps not  more  than  a  half  dozen  words;  but  these  few 
words  furnish  the  climax  of  the  whole  transaction;  and  give 


510        A'ICTOR  OVEK  DEATH  AND  THE  GRAVE. 

ail  indescribable  vividness  and  reality  to  the  aceoimt. 
They  are  like  the  last  touch  of  the  painter's  brush  to  the 
picture:  revealing  by  a  single  stroke  of  genius  the  crowning 
beauty  of  the  Avork.  though  it  may  have  appeared  complete 
before.  In  some  instances,  by  a  single  added  word,  as  by 
a  lightning  flash,  he  discovers  to  us  a  whole  sky  of  unlooked- 
for  tenderness  and  love. 

This  feature  of  the  gospel  identifies  the  writer  as  a  man. 
to  whom  the  great  reason,  the  one  reason  for  receiving 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  as  a  divinely  commissioned  teacher  was 
found  in  the  miracles  Avhich  he  wrought.  These  were  to  him 
infallible  "signs"  of  his  mission,  divine  credentials  com- 
manding unhesitating  submission :  and  he  certainly  was 
keenly  alive  to  their  appreciation.  He  had  the  finest  per- 
ception of  what  constituted  the  highest  glory  and  the  no- 
blest beauty  of  each  miracle;  and  realized  its  force  as  though 
himself  were  the  subject  benefitted.  Every  touch  of  Christ's 
omnipotence,  every  word  of  his  power  thrilled  through  his 
own  soul,  and  left  him  as  much  overwhelmed  with  grati- 
tude and  wonder,  as  was  the  recipient.  It  is  astonishing- 
how  he  caught  the  inspiration  of  each  miracle,  and  each 
interview,  and  proves  himself  to  have  been  in  closer  sym- 
pathy with  the  great  healer  and  teacher,  than  an^-  other 
of  his  attendants. 

He  also  observed  the  little  personal  acts  of  the  healer 
much  more  closely  than  did  any  other  of  the  four  historians. 
For  instance,  eight  times  he  mentions  the  fact,  that  Jesus 
looked  upon  those. whom  he  addressed.  There  was  doubt- 
less meaning  in  his  look,  in  his  long  and  steady  gaze, 
sometimes  of  reproof,  when  not  a  word  besides  was  needed 
to  convey  his  meaning;  sometimes  of  unfathomable  com- 
passion and  ineffable  kindness.  Indeed  his  countenance 
must  have  been  singularly  capable  of  expressing  compas- 
sion; and  must  often  have  taken  on  a  look  which  all  recog- 
nized as  revealing  the  deepest  emotions  of  mercy.  Mark 
notices  it  more  than  once.  The  eyes  of  this  writei-  took  in 
the  varying  expressions  of  his  Lord's  countenance,  and  re- 
ceived from  them  by  an  intuition  the  emphasis  of  his  state- 
ments. 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLOKY.  517 

He  uotices  also  the  movement  of  the  hands,  the  stretch- 
ing of  them  out,  and  the  laying  of  them  on  those  who  ap- 
plied. Our  Lord  had  a  habit  of  laying  his  hands  upon  all 
who  approached  him  for  benefits;  upon  the  poor  in  their 
rags,  upon  the  leper  in  his  ])ollution;  even  upon  those  whose 
touch  mig-ht  be  considered  infectious ;  upon  the  little  chil- 
dren; upon  the  blind  beggars;  even  upon  the  corpse.  Little 
as  such  an  act  may  appear,  yet  it  is  of  vast  significance; 
for  such  a  movement  expresses  feeling  better  than  words 
can.  Love  caresses  with  the  hand,  pity  sympathizes  with 
the  hand;  when  the  heart  warms  towards  its  object, 
the  hand  goes  out  in  harmony  with  it.  It  shows  that  we 
do  not  feel  ourselves  above  those  who  seek  our  aid;  that 
we  condescend  to  men  of  low  estate;  and  put  ourselves 
upon  an  equality  with  the  poor  and  lowly.  He  observed 
also  the  groaning  and  sighing  and  upward  turning  of  the 
eyes,  to  heaven,  which  no  other  has  recorded. 

This  evangelist  is  hereby  shown  to  have  been  an  eye-wit- 
ness of  all  from  the  beginning  of  the  ministry,  which  Mark 
was  not.  The  author  of  this  gospel  is  none  other  than 
Peter.  This  conviction  becomes  a  certainty,  when  we  i^ead 
the  words  describing  Peter's  state  of  mind  at  the  time  of 
the  transfiguration ;  when  it  is  said  of  him,  after  his  pro- 
posal to  make  three  tabernacles;  that  "he  wist  not  what 
to  say;"  an  expression  which  no  one  could  make  about 
him,  and  which  must  have  been  made  bj'  Peter  himself.  So 
also  after  his  denial  of  his  master,  the  expression  occurs: 
"When  he  thought  thereon  he  wept;"  the  meaning  of  the 
word  being  that  his  mind  was  fixed  upon  his  crime  to  the 
forgetfulness  of  all  else;  of  the  surroundings,  of  the  danger, 
of  the  presence  of  others.  Such  descriptions  could  come 
from  none  other  than  Peter  himself.  He  is  the  man  ever 
carried  away  by  the  interests  of  the  present  hour,  indeed 
with  the  liveliest  perception,  taking  in  the  full  influence  of 
the  present  occasion,  and  completely  surrendered  to  what 
is  passing  before  his  e^^es.  He  beholds  Jesus;  all  beside  is 
inferior  and  subsidiary.    He  is  the  one    centre    of   interest. 

3.  The  next  in  order  is  Luke,  whom,  we  learn  from  the 
epistle  to  the  CoUossians  to  have  been  a  gentile ;  and  as  he 
was  personally  acquainted  with  those  in  Colosse,  to  whom 


518  VICTOK   OVER  DEATH  AND  THE  GRAVE. 

Paul  was  writing-,  he  may  have  been  formerly  a  resident  of 
their  city.  His  attachment  to  the  apostle  was,  it  seems, 
very  close  and  lasting.  Not  long  after  the  establishment  of 
Christianity,  before  the  fire  of  opposition  on  the  part  of 
the  Hebrew  nation  ha.d  lost  any  degree  of  its  heat,  a  young- 
Jew  had  come  to  the  front  as  the  exponent  and  supporter 
of  their  religion ;  of  splendid  abilities,  ardent,  impetuous, 
Intolerant,  and  fierce  in  his  zeal  for  the  worship  of  his  na- 
tion. His  bigotry  was  more  the  result  of  ignorance  than 
malignity;  but  he  was  intensely  zealous,  and  thoroughly 
conscientious  withal.  His  activity  placed  him  at  the  head 
of  his  people,  as  the  representative  of  the  national  feeling 
ao-ainst  the  Nazarene  and  his  followers.  His  breath  was 
threatening  and  slaughter,  and  his  heart  burned  as  an  oven. 
He  monopolized  public  attention,  as  the  one  specially 
raised  up  to  overthrow  the  rapidly  extending  heresy,  being 
fully  equipped  to  reason  it  down,  or  failing  in  this,  to  burn 
it  out.  But  this  furious  partizan,  in  the  very  midst  of  his 
terrible  ministry  of  death,  fell  on  the  road  to  Damascus  to 
the  ground  under  the  sense  of  unpardonable  guilt,  and  the 
full  conviction  of  the  supreme  deit^'  of  Jesus  Christ.  The 
pardon  of  his  great  sin,  and  his  own  installation  as  an 
apostle  electrified  the  world;  and  among  other  results,  led 
to  the  conversion  of  this  gentile  physician,  who  henceforth 
became  his  loving  companion  in  proclaiming  the  divinity 
of  his  master. 

His  gospel  was  compiled  under  the  authority  of  this 
apostle,  hence  he  does  not  name  places  noi'  individuals,  nor 
observe  the  order  6i  time;  neithei-  of  them  having  been  an 
eye-witness  of  the  facts  related.  The  clew  to  its  understand- 
ing is  to  be  found  in  the  wonderful  forgiveness  of  the  per- 
secutor. Every  similar  case,  and  every  illustration  of  the 
power  and  willingness  of  Christ  to  pardon  sins  of  the  deep- 
est dye,  and  transgressors  of  the  most  revolting  character, 
comes  up  in  all  its  overpowering  magnitude  to  the  amaze- 
ment of  writer  and  readers.  Such  treatment  of  offenders, 
so  foi-eign  to  the  impulses  of  our  depraved  nature  as  to  be 
almost  incomprehensible  to  the  world,  forms  the  great  sub- 
ject nmtter  of  this  history.  It  was  only  after  long  debate 
that  Saul  could  believe  it  possible  that  he  could  find  par- 


LORD  OF   LIFE  AND   GLORY.  510 

doD,  or  that  he  could  venture  to  pray;  and  then  neither 
his  old  associates  nor  even  Christian  believers  could  for  a 
lono-  while  receive  his  conversion  as  a  fact;  but  Luke  finds 
evidences  of  the  like  grace  and  mercy  scattered  through  all 
the  ministry  of  the  Savior  on  earth. 

The  first  instance  of  the  readiness  of  Christ  to  forgive  sins 
A^hich  he  relates  in  the  case  of  the  paralytic,  who  was  let 
down  through  the  tiling  of  the  roof  to  his  presence,  and 
Avhoni  he  greeted  immediately  with  the  forgiveness  of  his 
sins  before  he  could  ask  it ;  and  whose  body  he  restored  to 
its  wonted  strength,  as  a  proof  of  his  possession  of  the 
power  to  forgive. 

It  is  Luke  who  gives  the  memorable  history  of  the  woman 
in  the  house  of  Simon  the  Pharisee,  which  was  a  sinner,  a 
tale  engraved  on  the  memory  of  the  world.  Floods  of  tears 
poured  from  her  eyes,  she  abhorred  herself  infinitely  more 
than  the  Pharisee  despised  her,  her  grief  w^as  too  deep  for 
speech,  and  her  love  exceeded.  Jesus  snatched  from  the 
depths  of  pollution  one  whom  a  decent  man  would  not  per- 
mit to  touch  him,  for  one  of  the  highest  seats  in  glory. 
The  wonderful  love  of  Christ  for  sinners  is  the  key  note  of 
the  account,  the  union  of  infinite  purity  with  love  for  the 
vilest  of  men  and  women,  and  his  readiness  to  pardon  and 
to  cleanse. 

This  is  the  oidy  evangelist  who  furnishes  the  account  of 
the  conversion  of  Zaccheus,  a  man  outcast  from  his  nation, 
one  who  had  extorted  from  the  poor,  and  taken  the  bread 
from  the  mouths  of  widows  and  orphans,  until  his  name 
had  become  odioiis.  It  seemed  to  his  fellows-townsmen  a 
stain  upon  the  character  of  Jesus,  that  he  should  accept 
entertainment  from  such  an  one;  but  filth  and  vileness  could 
never  pollute  him.  Salvation  visited  that  house,  when  Jesus 
entered  it.  Its  master  hastened  to  disgorge  his  accursed 
gains,  and  divide  all  that  he  had  left  with  the  poor  and 
needy.  If  there  is  a  vice  more  deeply  entrenched  than  others 
in  the  soul  of  a  sinner,  and  fortified  there  by  bonds  that 
no  human  power  can  sunder,  it  is  avarice.  But  the  captiv^es 
of  the  mighty  are  delivered:  Zaccheus  escapes  from  the 
toils;  the  net  is  broken  and  he  is  escaped.  Never  was  a 
human  soul  so  aroused,  so  quickened,  so  enlightened,  so 


520  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE. 

speedily  and  deeply  moved ;  and  the  change  was  for  life. 
It  is  those  whom  the  world  has  rejected  that  Jesus  seeks^ 
and  there  is  in  him  salvation  for  the  perishino;;  he  came  to 
seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost.  The  word  means  not 
wandered  away,  but  damned,  yet  out  of  hell. 

Luke  has  also  preserved  for  us  the  account  of  the  dying- 
malefactor,  a  hardened  criminal  whom  justice  had  overtaken 
in  his  misdeeds.  He  is  led  forth  to  a  deserved  execution; 
and  while  extended  upon  the  cross  finds  before  his  view  the 
spectacle  of  perfect  innocence  and  immaculate  holiness, in  the 
strange  being  suffering  at  his  side.  His  attention  is  ab- 
sorbed in  the  view  to  the  forgetfulness  of  his  own  pains. 
He  becomes  convinced  that  he,  who  is  the  sole  object  of  the 
concentrated  derision  of  the  world,  as  the  pretended  Kin^ 
of  the  Jews  and  the  Son  of  God,  is  in  fact  what  his  enemies 
represent  in  their  taunts.  He  beholds  a  suffering  Savior, 
and  at  once  feels  the  horror  of  his  own  crimes,  for  which  he 
is  enduring  the  penalty  at  the  hand  of  men,  and  with  a 
fearful  "looking  for  of  judgement  and  fiery  indignation"  at 
the  hand  of  God.  The  last  sands  of  his  perverted  life  are 
running  out;  and  the  edge  of  the  crater  around  the  fiery 
gulf  is  crumbling  beneath  his  feet;  the  doom  of  God  is 
awaiting  him ;  and  he  thinks,  perhaps,  this  holy  sufferer  who 
can  pray  for  the  forgiveness  of  his  enemies  may  possibly 
forgive  a  wretch  like  him.  Encouraged  by  what  he  has 
seen  and  heard  he  makes  his  feeble  and  hesitating  applica- 
tion: and  lo!  the  holy  one,  who  answers  not  taunts,  and 
opens  not  his  mouth  to  complain,  answers  him  with  the 
most  animating,  comforting  announcement  of  acceptance 
ever  granted  to  mortal.  How  often  this  writer  had  heard 
Paul,  with  flowing  tears  and  a  breaking  heart,  recount  these 
displays  of  almighty  grace,  and  to  them  add  his  own  de- 
liverence  and  acceptance,  to  the  everlasting  wonder  of  his 
own  soul  and  of  all  that  heard. 

This  is  the  evangelist  who  has  recounted  the  loud  wee])- 
ing  of  the  Savior  in  the  midst  of  the  hours  of  his  trium- 
phal entiy  into  Jerusalem ;  as  his  soul  yearned  over  those 
who  were  rejecting  the  light,  and  refusing  the  mercies 
offered  them.  His  own  impending  agonies  affected  him  not 
so  much,  as  the  contemplation   of    their  irremediable  ruin; 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  521 

that  the  o^ate  of  mercy  was  closing  ag-aiust  them.  He  alone 
recites  the  pra,3^er  which  is  the  astonishment  of  the  ages; 
''Father  forgive  them;  they  know  not  what  they  do.''  He 
loves  men  in  their  sins;  when  angels  are  pale  in  consterna- 
tion at  their  deeds,  and  the  earth  trembles  to  hold  them, 
and  the  sun  refuses  to  look  upon  their  horrid  vileness; 
even  then  Jesus  loves  them.  Infinite  purity  and  matchless 
love  combined  in  a  glory  that  exceeds  our  highest  thoughts. 
"His  heart  is  made  of  tenderness:  his  bowels  melt  with 
love." 

Here  comes  in  properly  the  parable  of  the  Pharisee  and 
Publican.  While  the  Pharisee  went  boldly  forward  into 
the  most  consecrated  part  of  the  court  of  Israel  to  offer 
his  prayer,  the  Publican  but  stepped  inside  the  outermost 
gate  of  the  Gentiles,  advancing  not  a  pace.  The  en- 
closure comprised  several  acres;  and  he  stood  at  the 
furthest  distance  possible  from  the  holy  place;  and  stand- 
ing there  he  could  not  so  much  as  lift  up  his  eyes  to 
heaven,  weighted  as  they  seemed  with  heavy  guilt;  while 
he  offered  no  set  prayer,  but  the  agonized  cry  burst  from 
his  lips,  while  he  smote  upon  his  breast:  "God  be  merciful 
to  me  the  sinner"  of  all  man  kind.  This  man  was  justified 
and  accepted ;  it  is  such  that  Jesus  came  to  save ;  and  no 
powers  could  rob  him  of  a  soul  oppressed  with  a  sense  of 
sin's  desert,  and  suing  for  forgiveness. 

The  world  owes  Luke  an  everlasting  debt  of  gratitude, 
had  he  done  no  more  than  treasure  up  for  us  those  inimi- 
table parables  of  the  lost  piece  of  money,  the  lost  sheep, 
and  the  lost  son.  The  readiness  of  Christ  to  accept  the 
returning  sinner,  and  forgive  all  his  crimes  admits  of  no 
exaggeration;  it  baffles  all  description, it  passes  all  thought; 
as  the  bereaved  father  mourns  over  the  dead,  and  has  for- 
gotten all  the  ingratitude  of  the  lost  one,  so  and  more 
does  Christ  yearn  for  sinners.  Words  can  never  tell  the 
whole. 

Luke  relates  parables  overlooked  by  the  others  which  are 
of  the  same  general  import,  and  contribute  to  his  purpose 
such  as  those  of  the  importunate  widow,  the  rich  man  and 
Lazarus,  and  the  barren  fig  tree  still  spared  in  its  barren- 
ness, with  some  others  not  in    the  same  line    of   teaching. 


522  VICTOR   OYER   DEATH   AND   THE    GRAVE. 

We  find  him  also  noticing-  everything  that  is  favorable  to 
the  calling  of  the  Gentiles.  In  this  connection  comes  in  the 
account  of  the  Centurion  of  Capernauni,  whose  history  ter- 
minates with  the  prophecy  of  the  Gentiles  coming  from  the 
four  quarters  of  the  earth  to  sit  down  with  Abraham  and 
Isaac  and  Jacob,  in  the  Kingdom  of  heaven,  also  the  para- 
ble of  the  great  supper,  and  that  of  the  husbandmen.  Of  the 
same  import  is  the  parable  of  the  good  Samaritan,  the 
cleansing  of  the  ten  lepers,  the  only  grateful  one  of  whom 
was  a  Samaritan. 

He  also  recites  some  miracles  not  noticed  by  the  others, 
the  raising  of  the  widow's  son  at  Nain,  the  healing  of  the 
bowed  woman  who  could  not  straighten  herself;  and  he  is 
very  full  in  his  description  of  the  crucifixion  with  the  pre- 
vious and  attendant  mental  sufferings  which  show  a  per- 
fect humanity  blending  with  divinity,  and  demonstrate 
Luke  to  have  been  a  physician,  and  a  philosopher  as  well  as 
a  believer. 

IV.  The  fourth  and  last  of  these  sacred  writers  is  the 
Apostle  John,  a  man  of  an  entirely  different  order  of  mind 
from  the  others,  indeed  the  very  opposite  of  some  of  them. 
He  had  companied  longer  with  his  master  than  any,  haA'^- 
ing  attended  him  before  he  had  been  called  to  the  apostle- 
ship.  A  disciple  of  the  Baptist,  he  was  one  of  the  two  to 
whom  John  bore  his  testimony  respecting  Jesus,  that  he 
was  the  lamb  of  God ;  and  from  that  instant  his  soul  clave 
to  his  new  master,  and  he  became  his  inseparable  follower. 
He  was  with  him  at  Cana  of  Gallilee,  and  went  with  him 
up  to  Jerusalem  on'ftis  first  visit,  and  was  e^^e-witness  of 
his  cleansing  of  the  temple,  and  of  the  various  miracles  then 
wrought;  heard  the  whole  interview  with  Nicodemus,  and 
understood  the  posture  of  the  Jewish  mind  towards  his 
lord  and  leader  from  the  outset.  He  was  evidently  better 
acquainted  with  Jerusalem  and  all  its  interests,  and  the 
leaders  there,  and  their  feelings  and  course,  than  any  other 
of  the  twelve.  In  some  unexplained  way  he  had  an  interest' 
and  connection  there  unfelt  by  the  others  of  his  company. 
His  gospel  is  almost  entirel3'  taken  up  with  the  happenings 
in  tha:  city,  and  the  prejudices  and  conduct  of  its  residents, 
and  their  leaders.      He    understood  the  true  inwardness  of 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  523 

the  men  of  that  capital.  When  we  add  to  this  the  fact, 
that  he  was  admitted  to  a  closer  intimacy  with  the  Naza- 
rene  than  his  fellow-apostles;  we  discover  that  he  possessed 
superior  qualifications  and  opportunities  for  learning-  and 
presenting  the  real  inner  history  of  the  whole  movement, 
that  issued  in  the  estabhshment  of  Christianity. 

In  this  he  was  peculiar,  that  he  was  not  so  carried  away 
with  the  displays  of  divine  power  in  the  miracles,  as  was 
Peter.  His  faith  in  Jesus  did  not  rest  upon  these  signs  as 
its  only  basis.  While  Peter  describes  them  as  though  they 
were  still  enacting  under  his  eyes,  with  a  pen  almost  pal- 
sied with  wonder;  John  finds  other  deeper  wonders;  and 
enters  as  it  were  within  the  veil  to  behold  the  divinity  en- 
shrined within.  He  recounts  miracles  indeed,  and  intimates 
that  they  were  well  nigh  past  numbering;  but  mentions 
only  six  in  the  life  of  the  Savior,  and  one  occurring  after 
his  resurrection.  He  relates  the  first  miracles  and  the  last 
for  evident  reasons.  Besides  them  he  enumerates  only 
those  which  so  irritated  the  rulers  and  the  nation  as  to 
lead  to  their  utter  rejection  of  him  and  to  his  crucifixion : 
the  cure  of  the  impotent  man  at  Bethesda;  the  feeding  of 
the  five  thousand,  and  the  rejection  of  the  temporal  crown; 
the  restoration  of  sight  to  the  man  born  blind ;  and  the 
raising  of  Lazarus;  which  may  all  be  classed  among  the 
causes  of  their  causeless  enmity  against  him.  which  he  vividly 
portrays  from  its  inception  to  its  fearful  culmination. 

John  found  in  his  master  something  more  amazing  and 
convincing  than  the  power  of  miracles.  It  is  plain  that 
our  Lord  relied  upon  miracles  simply  as  a  means  of  arous- 
ing and  fastening  the  attention;  it  was  the  apprehension 
of  the  vital  saving  truth  of  his  own  divine  personality, 
that  attached  this  disciple  by  indissoluble  bonds. 

John's  faith  in  his  master  rested  on  Jesus'  own  descrip- 
tions of  his  relation  to  the  eternal  Father.  There  is  an  un- 
approachable sublimity  in  some  of  Christ's  expressions, 
which  John  has  preserved  for  us,  and  a  self-evidence  which 
seals  their  truth  e.  g.  in  his  Ch.  V:34:  "I  receiv^e  not  tes- 
timony from  man."  These  Avords  were  used  by  him  when 
he  cited  the  Sanhedrin  to  the  witness  of  the  Baptist  to  him- 
self, to  which  he  referred  only  as  it  might  be  helpful  to  their 


524  VICTOR   OYER    DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE, 

conviction  and  salvation ;  vet  he  enters  his  protest  respect- 
ing such  testimony  as  involving  an  infinite  stoop  in  him- 
self to  receive  it.  Men,  who  "are  of  yesterday  and  know 
nothing-,"  who  "are  nothing  and  a  thing  of  nought"  and 
ignorant  of  the  boundless  eternit}'  past,  were  not  compe- 
tent to  testify  of  their  own  origin;  much  less  of  him.  The 
first-born  angel  could  only  assert  that  when  he  awoke  to 
consciousness  he  found  HIM  being.  As  Bartimeus  restored 
to  sight  found  his  eyes  opened  upon  the  mighty  Savior,  as 
the  first  object  on  which  they  rested,  so  the  oldest  seraph 
when  called  out  of  the  womb  of  nothingness  found  before 
him  the  creating  Son  of  God,  the  executive  of  the  Trinity, 
and  could  bear  only  the  same  witness  with  John:  '^ He  was 
before  me." 

The  only  being  in  the  universe,  whose  testimon^^  Jesus 
would  allow,  was  the  everlasting  Father,  whose  word  should 
compel  the  assent  of  men  unhesitatingly ;  yet  even  this  was 
not  needed  for  the  assurance  of  Jesus.  When  the  Father 
audibly  spoke  Jesus  said:  "this  voice  came  not  because  of 
me,  but  for  your  sakes."  He  needed  no  recognition  from 
the  Father  on  his  own  account.  Who  is  this  who  spurns 
all  testimony  save  that  of  God  alone,  and  needs  not  that 
for  himself?  Such  superiority  was  never  claimed  or  even 
imagined  save  by  Jesus :  none  other  could  use  such  language 
or  entertain  such  a  thought. 

His  only  companion  was  the  Father;  the  men,  who  were 
associated  with  him,  were  not  companions  for  him.  There 
is  record  of  a  prisoner  who  in  the  solitude  of  his  dungeon 
cultivated  the  acquaintance  of  a  spider,  taught  the  insect, 
fed  him  from  his  rations,  and  took  pleasure  in  its  society; 
so  Jesus  tabernacled  in  our  fiesh,  and  companied  with 
men,  who  were  less  than  nothing  and  vanity.  His  only 
associate  was  the  Father. 

So  in  speaking  of  his  miracles  he  in  only  one  instance 
refers  to  them  as  mighty  works  in  the  sight  of  men;  he 
speaks  of  them  as  ''the  works"  which  the  Father  had  given 
to  do.  They  were  no  exhibitions  of  his  power.  To  gain 
some  adequate  impression  of  his  power  it  would  have  been 
necessary  to  stand  with  him  when  he  was,  and  beside  him 
nothing  else;   when  even  space  and  time  were  not;  and  to 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  525 

hear  him  call  to  the  universal  emptiness,  and  to  see  all 
things  come  at  his  voice.  The  works  which  he  performed 
on  earth  were  a  part  of  his  humiliation,  a  confinino-  of 
omnipotence  to  such  works  as  became  a  human  prophet, 
and  such  only. 

In  this  g-ospel  each  of  the  first  eleven  chapters  is  a,  dis- 
tinct picture,  and  each  represents  one  stage  of  the  ministry: 
and  the  scene  shifts  fr'om  one  to  the  other  without  much 
historical  connection :  the  whole  forming  a  panorama  of 
the  successive  periods  grouped  into  a  history.  John  re- 
ceived his  Lord's  testimony  respecting  himself,  and  there- 
fore believed  in  him  as  the  eternal  son  of  the  eternal 
Father,  and  concludes  his  gospel  with:  "Those  things  have 
I  written  write  you,  that  ye  may  believe  that  Jesus  is  the 
Christ;  and  that  believing  ye  may  have  life  in  his  name." 

These  historians  were  not  men  of  genius,  endeavoring  to 
produce  effect  by  a  high  wraught  tale.  Having  the  neces- 
sary materials  for  the  most  exciting  account  conceivable, 
the}'  do  not  use  them.  They  are  not  fine  writers  making- 
out  a  case;  they  tell  their  story  without  one  single  word 
of  description,  and  speak  of  the  most  exciting  events  with- 
out one  word  of  passion.  Like  their  master,  they  render 
blessing  for  cursing,  and  meet  all  the  auger  of  an  opposing 
world  with  the  most  unfeigned  and  astonishing  prayers  for 
the  forgiveness  of  opposers.  They  do  not  exhibit  them- 
selves. Mark  and  Luke  do  not  even  give  their  own  names; 
and  it  is  only  from  internal  evidence  of  the  most  incontro- 
vertible kind,  that  we  discover  the  hand  of  Peter  in  the 
second  gospel  at  all.  It  relates  nothing  good  of  him,  nor 
any  of  the  commendations  which  he  received;  but  gives 
fulh^  the  great  sin,  and  the  terrible  reproofs  administered 
by  the  master,  even  classing  him  with  Satan.  There  is 
enough  of  apparent  disagreement  in  their  accounts  to 
acquit  them  of  all  collusion.  These  discrepancies  are  onh 
apparent;  they  are  all  capable  of  satisfactory  reconciha- 
tion,  and  taken  together  make  a  marvelous  history  of 
"the  wonderful,  the  counsellor,  the  mighty  (xod,  the  ever- 
lasting Father,"  who  was  born  a  child  of  our  common 
humanity,  and  given  as  a  son  of  the  race;  "to  make  an  end 
of  sins,  and  to  bring  in  everlasting  righteousness,"  and  to 
bear  the  government  upon  his  shoulder. 


52G  VICTOR  OVER  DEATH  AND  THE   GRAVE. 


CHAPTER  XLYIII. 


THE  TESTIMONY  OF  HISTORY. 


No  subject  fills  a  larg'er  space  in  the  literature  of  the 
centuries  since  the  advent,  than  the  Nazarene  and  the 
church  which  he  founded.  This  church  continued  sound  in 
its  acceptance  of  the  great  facts  of  Christianity  as  set 
forth  in  the  Apostles'  Creed,  which,  though  of  later  origin 
than  the  apostles'  time,  embodied  the  great  truths  which 
they  taught.  It  utters  no  philosophy ;  but  simply  recites 
facts,  not  even  stating  with  distinctness  the  trinity  of  the 
divine  persons. 

The  prevailing  heathen  philosophy  of  the  age  was  the 
Gnostic,  which  immediately  took  up  Jesus,  and  constructed 
its  own  theory  of  his  personality,  and  the  reason  of  his 
appearance  on  the  earth.  Some  of  these  philosophers  as- 
sumed the  name  of  Christian;  and  attached  themselves  to 
the  infant  church;  among  whom  was  Cerinthus  during  the 
Hfe-time  of  the  apostle  John,  who  was  Christian  only  in 
name:  not  accepting  Christ's  own  description  of  himself 
and  his  errand.  This  adoption  of  Jesus  by  partisans  of 
the  Gnostic  philosophy  is  as  incontrovertible  evidence  of 
his  real  existence  and  acts,  as  the  warmest  confession  of 
him  by  the  church  could  possibly  be;  and  completes  the 
chain  of  testimony  from  the  earliest  days  down  to  the 
reign  of  Adrian ;  from  which  period  onward,  literature  has 
hardly  another  subject  than  Christianity  and  the  church. 
The  unbroken  succession  of  evidence  is  perfect. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  unanimity,  with  which  the 
Gnostics  for  three  centuries  agree  in  denying  to  Jesus  the 
possession  of  a  gross  material  body.  According  to  them 
he  had  but  the  mere  semblance  of  a  body,  an  ethereal 
vehicle  of  his  divinity,  which  bore  the  perfect  form  of  hu- 
manity, and    nothing  more.     To  this  phantom   body  the 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  527 

divinity-  united  itself  at  his  baptism,  and  forsook  it  a,t  his 
arrest  and  condemnation ;  leaving  in  the  hands  of  his  ene- 
mies only  the  empty  form  of  man.  While  residing;  in  this 
image  of  humanity,  the  divinity  uttered  the  sayings,  and 
wrought  the  works  of  mercy  attributed  to  Jesus  in  the 
gospels.  This  theory  contains  a  most  wonderful  admis- 
sion. 

When  we  call  to  mind  that  the  Gnostics  considered  the 
body  to  be  the  seat  of  sin,  enslaving  by  its  lusts  and  ap- 
petites the  nobler  and  immortal  soul;  and  that  evil  has 
its  origin  in  matter;  the  denial  to  Jesus  of  a  material 
body  was  a  confession  by  heathen  philosophy  of  the  abso- 
lute sinlessness  of  the  Redeemer,  and  the  celestial  purity  of 
his  spiritual  being.  No  deeper  and  more  pervading  im- 
pression was  ever  made  upon  mortals,  than  was  made  by 
the  appearance  of  this  mysterious  holy  visitant.  It  may 
be  considered  established,  that  there  was  about  him  an 
air  of  purity,  elevation  and  spirituality  never  before  or 
since  paralleled,  and  in  consequence  a  dignity  and  grace 
beyond  description.  The  wonder  aroused  did  not  subside 
or  abate  much  for  three  centuries;  and  even  pagan  phil- 
osophy accounted  for  his  illustrious  purity,  by  contending 
that  the  gross  animalism  of  our  common  humanity  was 
lacking  in  him. 

Gnosticism  added  still  another  confession  respecting  him. 
With  the  polytheistic  notions  current  at  the  time,  the 
Gnostics  imagined  a  conflict  to  exist  among  the  gods.  The 
god  of  the  Jewish  people  Avas  contending  against  Jesus, 
and  secured  his  arrest  and  crucifixion.  In  this  sup- 
posed conflict  they  assigned  to  Jesus  the  position  of  the 
supreme  deity,  thereby  showing  the  depth  of  the  im])res- 
sion  he  had  made.  All  this  theorizing  was  among  out- 
siders and  philosophers,  while  vast  multitudes  received  the 
teachings  of  the  gospel  in  their  purity,  as  expressed  in  the 
only  current  creed  of  the  time,  the  Apostles'  Creed. 

During  these  centuries  the  truth  was  being  ''crushed  to 
earth"  by  ten  successive  bloody  persecutions:  yet  did  it 
"rise  again"  stronger  after  every  struggle.  In  the  last  of 
these  persecutions,  Dioclesian  flattered  himself  that  he  had 
destroyed  every  copy  of  the  Christian  Scriptures,  and  had 


528  VICTOR   OVF.R   DEATH   AND   THE   ORAVE. 

exterminated  every  disciple  of  the  Nazarene;  but  in  the 
very  next  generation  following,  Christianity  was  stronger 
than  ever;  and  took  possession  of  the  throne  of  the  Roman 
empire,  and  sat  in  the  seat  of  the  Caesars.  From  this  point 
onward  the  history  of  the  church  became  the  history  of 
the  world,  and  the  whole  civilized  earth  was  summoned  at 
intervals  of  less  than  a  century  to  successive  councils,  in 
order  to  canvass  some  particular  in  connection  with  the  per- 
sonality of  Jesus,  and  define  his  true  nature  and  standing. 

Since  the  conversion  of  Constantine  Jesus  has  for  sixteen 
centuries  monopolized  the  attention  of  the  civilized  world, 
having  for  the  three  previous  centuries  been  conspicuous  for 
the  opposition  which  he  caused  until  society  quaked  to  its 
very  foundations.  The  sword  that  smote  the  master  was 
hardly  sheathed  for  three  hundred  years:  and  was  the 
author  of  the  greatest  sensation  of  the  ages  but  an  imag- 
inary^ person  as  some  infidels  would  fain  believe?  We  are 
not  saying  too  much  when  w^e  say  that  he  is  the  burden  of 
history':  and  that  its  report  comes  to  us  in  an  unbroken 
chain  from  his  age  to  the  present.  Thus  far  our  attention 
has  been  given  to  those  outside  the  pale  of  the  church, 
which,  numbering  its  members  by  multitudes,  continued  in 
the  apostles'  doctrine,  and  in  fellowship,  purified  bj^  the 
fires  of  persecution,  undivided  by  sects,  and  comparatively 
free  from  error.  From  this  date  our  knowledge  of  the 
church  is  minute. 

The  first  heresy  that  seriously-  agitated  was  the  Arian 
heres^^  which  developed  about  three  hundred  years  after 
Christ,  when  the  uny?aralleled  impression  of  his  person  and 
life  had  faded  out  of  memory.  Previous  to  this,  Sabellian- 
ism  had  appeared,  and  had  found  many  supporters  in  North 
Africa,  where  its  author  had  lived  and  preached.  This  sys- 
tem denies  all  distinction  between  the  persons  in  the  God- 
head :  and  contends  that  the  same  identical  person  acts 
as  father ;  comes  to  the  earth  as  Son ;  and  operates  as  the 
Holy  Ghost.  While  this  theory  of  Sabellius  overlooks  the 
fact,  that  distinct  personal  acts  are  ascribed  to  the  three 
persons  in  the  Scriptures,  yet  it  was  not  considered  fatal 
to  salvation ;  inasmuch  as  it  did  not  attack  the  deity  of 
the  Son,  or  detract  at  all  from  his  dignity:  but  the  whole 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  529 

•church  felt  the  blow  when  Arianism  took  fonii,  aud  openly 
proclaimed  him  to  be  a  mere  creature ;  thouo-h  the  highest 
ever  brought  into  being.  The  horror  excited  by  the  bare 
suggestion  of  his  inferiority,  is  a  convincing  proof  of  the 
orthodoxy  and  purity  of  the  church  of  that  age,  which  is 
founded  upon  the  rock  of  his  absolute  divinity.  The  zeal 
of  Athanasius  and  his  sj'mpathizers  shows,  that  they  were 
sensible  that  this  heresy  aimed  its  stab  at  the  ver^^  vitals 
•of  Christianity. 

The  theory  takes  advantage  of  our  Savior's  humility 
-expressed  in  so  many  of  his  discourses.  "My  Father  is 
greater  than  I,"  "the  son  can  do  nothing  of  himself,"  "[ 
can  of  mine  own  self  do  nothing,''  and  "the  Father  sent 
the  son  to  be  the  Savior  of  the  world." 

To  meet  and  defeat  this  blighting  error,  the  emperor 
himself  was  persuaded  that  the  sentiment  of  the  church 
universal,  expressed  in  a  unanimous  condemnation,  would 
have  far  more  force  than  his  own  simple  authority.  The 
memory  of  Constantine  merits  our  veneration  on  this 
account;  that  he  desired  the  decision  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
dwelling  in  his  church  concerning  this  heresy;  on  the 
ground  that  condemnation  by  the  infallible  church  would 
be  more  efficacious  them  the  decree  of  an  emperor,  and 
would  carry  the  weight  of  a  divine  judgment  in  the  case. 
Much  as  we  abhor  the  teachings  of  the  Roman  church,  3'et 
the  true  church  of  the  present  is,  according  to  the  promise 
of  its  head,  infallible  in  matters  of  faith. 

These  convictions  in  Constantine  gave  rise  to  the  first 
ecumenical  council,  which  was  held  at  Nice  in  Bithynia,  A. 
D.  325.  This  was  the  largest  of  the  ancient  councils,  to 
which  bishops  from  the  whole  civilized  world  were  sum- 
moned; and  the  one  in  which  the  fairest  expression  of 
conviction  was  honestly  sought,  and  not  procured  by  in- 
trigue or  reward;  as  was  the  case  in -some  of  the  subse- 
quent councils.  This  council  at  Nice  affords  an  example  of 
an  honest  and  conscientious  declaration  of  the  truth  ac- 
cording to  the  teachings  of  the  holy  word.  The  senti- 
ments of  Arius  were  condemned,  and  he  was  banished ;  and  a 
very  strong  orthodox  creed  was  adopted  and  promulgated 
a,s  follows: 

—34 


530  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH  AND   THE   GRAVE. 

"I  believe  in  one  God  the  Father  ahnighty,  the  maker  of 
all  things,  visible  and  invisible;  and  in  one  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  son  of  God,  begotten  of  the  Father,  onh'  be- 
gotten i.  e.  of  the  substance  of  the  Father,  God  of  God, 
light  of  light,  very  God  of  very  God;  begotten  not  made; 
of  the  same  substance  with  the  Father;  by  whom  all 
things  were  made  that  are  in  heaven,  and  that  are  on 
earth:  who,  for  us  men  and  for  our  salvation,  descended, 
and  was  incarnated,  and  became  man;  suffered  and  rose 
again  the  third  day;  ascended  into  the  heavens;  and  will 
come  to  judge  the  living  and  the  dead :  and  in  the  Holy 
Spirit.  But  those  who  say  that  there  was  a  time  when  he 
was  not ;  and  that  he  was  not,  before  he  was  begotten ; 
and  that  he  was  made  out  of  nothing;  or  affirm  that  he  is 
of  any  other  substance  or  essence;  or  that  the  son  of  God 
is  created  or  changeable,  the  Catholic  church  pronounces 
accursed." 

So  the  heresy  was  strongly  condemned;  but  after  about 
five  years  the  emperor,  becoming  convinced  that  Athana- 
sius  and  others  had  been  instigated  by  personal  enmity 
against  Arius,  rather  than  zeal  for  the  truth,  did,  of  his 
own  movement,  without  advice  or  consent  of  a  council^ 
annul  the  decree  against  him,  and  recall  him  from  banish- 
ment. Returning  to  Constantinople,  he  entered  the  city 
in  triumph,  proceeding  towards  a  church  which  had  been 
assigned  to  him ;  but  being  forced  to  leave  the  procession 
formed  in  his  honor,  he  retired  into  a  public  outhouse  on 
the  way,  and  died  there  in  an  unnatural  and  tragic  man- 
ner. The  ancients  r-egarded  his  death  as  a  judgment  of 
God ;  but  the  moderns  have  suggested  poison.  It  is  re- 
lated that  he  discharged  his  own  bowels.  No  known  poison 
effects  this.  Constantine  died  shortly  after;  and  during 
four  succeeding  reigns,  there  were  bitter  and  protracted 
contests;  the  issue 'being  that  the  Arians  were  everywhere 
overcome  and  dispo.  sessed,  until  the  heresy  was  extin- 
guished. 

While  thei'e  was  a  general  acquiesence  in  the  decisions  of 
the  Xicene  council  respecting  the  divinity  and  ecpiality  of 
the  Son ;  yet  there  had  been  a  lack  of  explicitness  respect- 
ing the  third   person  of   the  Godhead,  whom    Arian  senti- 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND    GLORY.  581 

ments  undeified  also;  as  the  denial  of  the  divinity  of  the 
Son  dethrones  the  Holy  Spirit  likewise.  Therefore  it  became 
necessary  soon  to  assemble  another  ecnmenical  council,  in 
order  to  define  the  true  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  and  espec- 
ially to  declare  the  personality  and  full  equality  of  the 
Holy  Spirit;  and  thus  complete  and  perfect  the  woik  of 
the  previous  council. 

This  second  council  settled  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  of 
persons  in  the  Godhead,  as  it  has  continued  to  be  received 
to  the  present  day,  a  matter  of  pure  revelation,  which 
defies  all  attempts  of  men  to  explain,  or  hardly'  to  illus- 
trate. 

When  God  condescends  to  make  a  revelation  of  the  mode 
of  his  own  existence,  mysteries  may  be  looked  for,  which 
human  wisdom  cannot  fathom;  their  absence  would  con- 
demn the  revelation  at  once  as  unworthy  of  reception. 
M3^stery  is  connected  with  everything-  which  we  believe. 

After  a  brief  season  of  quiet,  the  next  heresy  had  its  origin 
fi'om  Nestorius  bishop  of  Constantinople.  There  being-  no 
longer  a  diversity  of  opinion  respecting-  the  deity  of  Christ; 
speculation  was  busy  about  the  union  in  him  of  the  two 
natures.  A  presbyter  of  Nestorius  refused  to  Mary  the 
title  of  "mother  of  God;"  as  only  his  manhood  was  derived 
from  her  flesh.  This  was  a  sound  and  well  taken  criticism, 
and  Nestorius  approved  of  it;  but  in  the  controversy  to 
which  it  gave  rise  he  was  naturally  led  to  make  the  distinc- 
tion between  the  two  natures  as  wide  as  possible.  In  the 
heat  of  debate  he  took  grounds,  which  distinguished  and 
separated  the  humanity  from  the  divinity  l\y  too  wide  a 
breach;  contending  that  the  natures  being  so  utterly  diverse 
could  not  really  be  united;  and  that  in  fact  they  were  not 
united  except  in  will  and  affection.  According  to  his  own 
theory  there  was  rather  a  conjunction  of  the  two  natures; 
or  m  other  words  the  humanity  was  a  person  in  the  hands 
of  the  divinity.  He  thus  made  Christ  a  compound  of  two 
cooperating  personalities.  This  was  a  very  grave  error; 
the  humanity  of  our  Lord  had  no  personality;  it  was  a 
nature  and  not  a  person;  and  the  two  natures  in  him  were 
not  in  conjunction  merely;  but  united  by  a  congenital  vital 
and  indissoluble  union.    Oil   and  water,  iron  and  clay  can 


532  VICTOR  OVEK   DEATH   AND  THE   GRAVE. 

be  mixed  but  never  united;  but  in  our  Lord  the  two  natures 
were  really  and  truly  united  in  one  person. 

There  is  too  great  a  tendency  in  our  day  to  separate  the 
natures,  and  attribute  some  sayings  to  the  humanity 
alone:  and  assign  others  to  the  divinity  solely.  It  is  more 
proper  to  teach  that  the  complex  personality  gave  atter- 
ance*to  the  sayings,  in  which  the  tone  of  both  natures 
distinctly  sounded.  For  instance,  when  upon  the  cross  he 
said  "I  thirst,"  he  not  only  spoke  as  man  suffering  from 
privation  of  drink  ;  but  as  God  fulfilling  previous  prophecA^ 
and  affording  to  his  enemies  the  opportunity  of  manifest- 
ing the  bitterness  of  their  cruelty  and  scorn,  by  offering 
him  viuegar  mingled  with  2,all,  and  refusing  him  a  drop  of 
water  in  his  torment.  When  he  said:  "thy  sins  be  forgiven 
thee."  he  could  not  utter  this  as  God  simply.  God  can 
never  forgive  sin,  except  as  an  atoning  mediator.  It  is 
doubtful  if  any  word  of  his  can  be  selected,  in  which  both 
natures  did  not  speak.  The  "I"  is  an  indivisible  factor, 
whose  dissection  is  never  allowed.  So  in  our  Lord,  as  in 
ourselves,  there  was  but  one  indivisible  1;  and  all  that  he 
said  or  did  proceeded  from  that  indivisible  source.  Divinity 
was  in  every  act  and  word,  and  equally  did  humanity  con 
tribute  its  share. 

It  may  not  be  proper  to  pronounce  that  the  humanity- 
alone  handled  the  saw  and  axe  in  the  shop  at  Nazareth. 
The  divinity  cooperated  in  every  labor,  and  in  evei-y  utter- 
ance, maintaining  always  the  proper  concealment.  So  it 
may  not  be  correct  ^1;o  say  that  the  humanity  alone  wept 
at  the  grave  of  Lazarus :  the  tears  expressed  the  sympathy 
of  Jehovah  as  well.  Neither  nature  acted  separately:  the 
composite  being  spoke  and  acted  in  every  case  from  both 
sides  of  his  personality  as  an  indivisible  unity.  There  was 
more  than  a  sympathy  between  the  two  natures:  there  was 
a  vital  union. 

AVho  shall  say  that  in  his  sufferings  at  the  last  humanity 
alone  had  part?  "It  were  a  bold  position  to  affirm  that 
all  the  self-denial  and  endurance  of  suffering,  which  ai-e  the 
high  expression  of  love  in  this  stupendous  work  of  atone- 
ment, belonged  solely   to   the   human  nature  of  Christ.''* 

"Dr.  E.  N.  Kirk,  of  Boston,  Mass. 


LOUD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  ."jSS 

How  strong:,'  are  some  expressions  of  the  Holy  word :  God 
''purchased  us  with  hifi  own  blood."  "i/e  gave  his  life  for 
us."  While  learning-  and  philosophy  have  decided  that  the 
divine  nature  is  impassible;  the  common  mind  of  Christen- 
dom has  ever  taken  a  different  view,  and  yjrobably  does 
still. 

The  opponents  of  Nestorius  were  naturally  disposed  to 
proceed  to  the  opposite  extreme,  according  to  the  common 
infirmity  of  the  human  mind.  The  heresy  was  soon  formu- 
lated, which  asserts  that  in  the  union  of  the  two  natures 
in  Christ,  the  divine,  from  its  overponderance,  minimized 
and  absorbed  the  human :  so  that  in  him  there  was  really 
but  the  one  nature. 

In  this  departure  the  leader  was  Entyches,  also  a  pres- 
byter of  Constantinople.  Before  this  period  the  same  theory 
had  been  broached:  the  younger  Apollinaris  had  insisted, 
that  in  Jesus  the  divinity  supplied  the  place  of  a  rational, 
intelligent  soul;  and  that  Christ's  assumption  of  humanity 
consisted  only  in  the  taking  upon  him  of  a  material  body. 

The  statements  of  the  Scripture  are  explicit  upon  this 
point,  that:  "It  behoved  him  to  be  made  in  all  things  like 
unto  his  brethren."  "For  verily  he  took  not  on  him  the 
nature  of  angels;  but  he  took  on  him  the  nature  of  the 
seed  of  Abraham."  "Both  he  that  sanctifieth  and  they 
that  are  sanctified  ai'e  all  of  one,  for  which  cause  he  is  not 
ashamed  to  call  them  brethren."  "For  we  have  not  a  high 
priest  which  cannot  be  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  in- 
firmities; but  was  in  all  points  tempted  like  as  we  are  yet 
without  sin."  Throughout  the  New  Testament  he  is  called 
the  Son  of  Man,  twice  a.s  often  as  he  is  called  the  Son  of 
God;  agreeing  to  the  idea  of  his  full  humanity. 

So  an  evident  necessity  existed  for  another  council,  which 
was  called  to  meet  at  Ephesus;  but  which  was  so  conducted 
as  not  to  merit  the  confidence  of  the  church :  though  its 
decisions  are  regarded  as  orthodox.  After  an  interval,  still 
another  council  was  called  to  meet  at  Chacedon,  A.  D.  451, 
which  settled  for  all  time  the  definition  of  the  person  of 
Christ;  that  he  was  God  and  man,  two  natures  in  one  per- 
son, and  that  the  two  natures  were  united  without  confu- 
sion, or  change,  indivisibly  and  inseparably  forever. 


034  VICTOR   OVER  DEATH   AND  THE   GRAVE. 

When  two  cognate  speeieg,  whether  of  plants  or  animals, 
amalgamate  and  interpropagate,  the  hybridized  offspring 
is  quite  dissimilar  to  both  parents,  being  an  entirely  new 
product  resulting  from  a  confusion  of  the  races;  and  is  a 
monster  defective  in  important  respects.  The  uncreated  not 
being  capable  of  such  amalgamation  with  a  mere  creature, 
the  union  of  the  divinity  and  the  humanity  is  of  an  alto- 
gether different  type:  the  two  natures  remain  distinct;  but 
are  really  and  truly  united  into  one  person,  without  con- 
fusion or  change.  The  divinity'  was  not  reduced,  nor  was 
the  humanity  enlarged;  but  they  were  associated  in  one 
indivisible  person  forever.  Our  Lord  was  neither  a  demi- 
god, noi'  a  divine  man. 

In  the  original  creation  of  man.  human  nature  was  con- 
stituted to  meet  this  very  contingenc}-.  Man's  spiritual 
nature  is  s])ecial]y  adapted  and  prepared  with  such  a  quality' 
as  to  render  this  union  with  divinity  possible.  Man  is  a 
perfect  miniature  (of)  God,  and  his  nature  is  a  suitable  ve- 
hicle for  the  divinity:  not  merely  a  temple  for  his  indwell- 
ing, but  a  speculum  or  prism  qualified  to  transmit  all  the 
rays  of  divinity  in  their  glorious  effulgence :  which  may  not 
be  true  of  the  nature  of  any  of  the  angelic  races.  In  short, 
the  image  of  God,  in  which  Adam  was  created,  may  include 
more  than  the  knowledge  and  true  holiness  with  which  he 
was  endowed. 

There  remains  but  one  more  err(jr  to  confute  pertaining 
to  the  personality  of  the  Savior;  and  it  is  an  error  which 
reappeared  again  and  again  in  the  philosophies  of  succes- 
sive centuries.  The  Entychians  of  the  fifth  century  are 
quite  similar  to  the  Monophj'sites  of  the  sixth,  and  the 
Monothelites  of  the  seventh  century. 

This  heresy  in  its  last  form  denied  to  his  humanity  the 
possession  of  a  separate  will,  or  of  its  separate  operation : 
thus  depriving  it  of  one  of  its  essential  faculties,  and 
teaching  that  a  defective  human  nature  was  taken  into 
alliance  with  the  divinity.  That  his  humanity  was  full  in 
its  e(]uipnient  of  every  endowment  belonging  to  its  proper 
constitution,  is  just  as  certain  as  that  his  divinity-  suffered 
no  diminution.  That  it  possessed  its  own  operation  of 
will  is  clear  from  the  view  of  the  two  wills,  which  we  2:ain 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  535 

in  the  story  of  Gethsemane;  where  we  behold  the 
humanity  shuddering,  hesitating,  praying  to  be  dehvered ; 
3'et  finally  submissive  and  concurrent.  In  that  scene  a 
full  and  not  a  defective  humanitj'  appears.  He  possessed 
a  nature  in  its  entirety  a  model  of  our  ow^n.  Perfect  man 
and  perfect  God  in  one  person,  he  was  qualified  for  the 
great  work  of  redemption.  As  the  fulness  of  the  God- 
head dwelt  in  him  bodily,  not  emptied  of  its  omniscience, 
nor  of  its  omnipresence,  nor  of  any  of  its  attributes :  the 
immutability'  of  the  divine  nature  forbids  such  supposi- 
tions: so  was  there  the  fulness  of  the  manhood  without 
any  deduction.  He  has  taken  into  union  with  himself  the 
lowest  grade  of  intelligent  creatures,  through  which  to  fur- 
nish the  clearest  and  most  affecting  disclosure  of  himself. 
Humanity  is  thus  honored  with  the  highest  distinction, 
and  is  to  become  the  vehicle  of  all  future  revelations  of 
the  Godhead,  which  may  be  vouchsafed.  Thus  as  we  have 
recited  for  four  centuries,  history  has  no  other  theme,  until 
the  final  settlement  at  Chalcedon  of  the  real  personality 
of  Jesus  Christ. 

Was  the  world  thus  agitated  over  an  imaginary  person- 
age, who  never  had  a  real  existence?  Is  history  an  un- 
broken tissue  of  mythical  or  legendary  fables?  Was  there 
no  original  cause  of  the  fierce  persecutions,  the  bloody  con. 
tests,  and  the  warring  philosophies  of  the  past  centuries? 
The  very  philosophies  of  the  past  prove  the  existence  of  Christ 
and  his  doctrine.  New  Platonism  had  never  been,  had  not 
Christianity  been ;  nor  would  Eclecticism  ;  both  demonstrate 
the  existence  and  wide  influence  of  Christianity,  being  h3'brid 
systems,  adapting  Paganism  to  gospel  truth.  The  de- 
structive influence  of  false  philosophy  upon  Christianity 
can  hardly  be  appreciated. 

The  world  waited  until  the  first  James  of  England  before 
a  true  Christian  method  of  philosophy  was  introduced. 
Gnosticism,  Platonism,  Aristotelianism  were  in  turn  dis- 
carded. The  world  is  indebted  to  Jesus  Christ  for  the 
Christian,  the  Baconian  philosophy-  it  is  the  offspring  of 
his  gospel. 

Successive  councils  added  nothing  to  the  received  concep- 
tions of  the  God-inau ;  and  the  way  was  rapidl3"  preparing 


536  VICTOR  OVER  DEATH  AND  THE   GRAVE. 

for  the  great  Roman  apostasy.  Home,  having  lost  the  im- 
perial headship  of  the  world,  assumed  by  gradual  encroach- 
ment the  ecclesiastical  supremacy,  and  perpetuated  the 
Roman  ascendanc^^,  with  powers  vastly  increased.  "The 
beast  that  thou  sawest  was,  and  is  not,  and  shall  ascend 
out  of  the  bottomless  pit,  and  go  into  perdition."  It  be- 
came the  bloodiest  enemy  of  true  Christianity  that  the 
world  has  ever  seen.  When  John  ''saw  the  woman  drunk 
with  the  blood  of  the  saints  and  with  the  blood  of  the 
martyrs  of  Jesus,"  he  "wondered  with  great  admiration;" 
because  the  woman  was  the  professedly  Christian  church. 
Though  "driven  into  the  wilderness,"  the  true  church  has 
survived ;  and  still  counts  an  unbroken  succession  from  its 
Pentecostal  commencement  to  the  present  day.  That  it 
has  outlived  such  mighty  vicissitudes,  is  an  infallible  proof 
of  the  actual  existence  upon  earth  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  an 
earnest  of  its  universal  triumph. 

The  martyrdom  of  Stephen  is  a  reproduction  of  the  death 
of  his  master,  and  a  standing  proof  of  its  occurrence  just 
as  related.  In  it  we  behold  a  man  standing  for  the  truth 
against  an  opposing  world,  Avhom  the  fear  of  death  could 
not  dismay,  nor  turn  in  the  slightest  degree  from  the  path 
of  his  convictions.  Though  he  knew  that  the  price  of  in- 
tegrity was  his  blood,  "having  done  all"  he  stood;  and 
when  the  sacrifice  took  place,  in  his  supreme  agony,  hke 
the  Holy  One  for  w^hom  he  died,  he  rose  to  his  knees,  and 
prayed  for  his  enemies;  and  especially  for  the  young  man, 
who  was  the  chief  instigator  of  the  deed.  The  death  of 
Stephen  proves  the  great  exemplar  which  he  was  following. 

So  likewise  the  martyrdom  of  Peter,  in  humble  resem- 
blance of  his  Lord's,  establishes  the  fact  of  the  real  life  and 
death  of  his  master.  An  unbroken  succession  of  such  fol- 
fowers  and  imitators  marks  the  history  of  three  hundred 
years;  and  while  martyrs  were  numbered  by  the  hundred 
thousand,  each  one  the  strongest  conceivable  witness  of 
the  actual  existence  of  their  great  prototype,  in  the  times 
when  his  memory  was  fresh  in  the  minds  of  men;  we  must 
considei-  that  their  number  might  have    been  multiplied  a. 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  537 

thousand  fold;  for  every  genuine  believer  was  just  as  ready 
to  give  up  all  for  Jesus,  as  those  who  were  called  to  yield 
their  lives. 

Neither  is  the  chain  now  broken  in  this  age  of  formality; 
but  if  the  same  sacrifice  were  required  now,  there  are  mil- 
lions who  would  rise  up  and  surrender  life  for  him.  As 
Napoleon  said:  ''I  shall  die  and  men  will  forget  me;  but 
there  are  thousands  now  who  can  never  forget  Jesus;  but 
would  die  for  him  instantly,  if  required.  Jesus  died,  but 
do  you  call  this  dying?"  No  character  in  history,  and  no 
events  are  more  incontrovertibly  established  by  all  manner 
of  indubitable  evidence,  than  the  existence  of  the  Nazarene, 
and  the  history  of  his  life,  and  death  and  teachings  as 
recorded.  Accepting  this  testimony',  we  stand  upon  the 
Rock  of  Ages,  and  feel  that  if  anything  on  earth  is  cer- 
tain: "this  is  a  faithful  saying  and  worthy  of  all  accepta- 
tion that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners, 
"even  the  thief." 

He  came  into  the  race,  not  being  one  of  them,  upon  an 
errand  of  nameless  mercy.  No  devil  nor  liar  ever  forged 
the  tale:  the  scheme  was  born  in  the  heart  of  God,  and 
comes  to  us  accredited  by  his  own  authority.  It  seems 
almost  more  than  man  can  believe,  and  too  good  to  be 
true;  but  our  salvation  is  suspended  upon  our  hearty 
credence.  Unbelief  is  the  damning  sin,  the  separating  sin, 
the  unpardonable  sin  when  it  reaches  to  malignity. 


538  VICTOR  OVER  DEATH  AND  THE   GRAVE. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 


THE  WORLD  COULD  NOT  CONTAIN  THE  BOOKS,     jno,  XXI, 


The  word  translated  contain  is  in  other  passag'es  trans- 
lated to  receive  and  to  be  received.  It  also  describes  the 
manner  of  reception  as  in  2  Cor.  vii:  2:  ''receive  us.  we 
have  wrong-ed  no  man,"  where  it  evidently  means  to  receive 
with  confidence  and  affection  John's  assertion  then 
amounts  to  this;  that  the  history  of  the  Nazarene  was  an 
inexhaustible  subject;  but  that  a  multiplication  of  similar 
accounts  of  healing,  all  agreeing  in  the  same  result  of  in- 
stantaneous relief  to  the  suffering,  could  not  add  to  the 
conviction  of  the  inquirer;  or  be  received  with  advantage. 
It  was  not  necessary  to  see  all  his  works,  in  order  to  be- 
lieve in  him. 

Perhaps  there  is  in  the  apostle's  words  a  further  thought; 
that  the  whole  could  not  be  told;  that  the  wonderful  char- 
acter was  so  entirely  above  what  had  ever  been  seen  on 
earth,  so  elevated,  so  holy,  that  it  was  impossible  to  de- 
scribe him  fully.  It  was  simply  impossible  to  communicate 
in  words  of  earth  the  actual  beauty  and  grace  of  the  match- 
less hero  of  the  menioirs.  The  apostle  was  indeed  repudi- 
ating his  own  account  of  him  as  meagre,  and  unworthy  of 
the  subject,  who  infinitel}^  surpassed  the  lofty,  ideal  of  the 
most  spiritual  imagination.  As  art  has  never  been  able  to 
devise  a  representation  of  his  physical  person  satisfactory 
to  the  designer  himself;  so  the  apostle  speaks  as  one  af- 
fording us  a  glimpse  and  only  a  glimpse  of  the  indescrib- 
able one  in  his  S})i ritual  beauty. 

The  four  evangelists  seem  to  be  giving  us  each  his  own 
personal  expei-ience  in  reaching  the  full  conviction  of  the 
supreme  divinity  of  his  Master.  Instead  of  attempting  to 
overwhelm  the  reader  with  a  tale  of  wonders,  all  but  one 
omit  the  su])ernatural  credentials  of  the  forerunner,  and  the 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND    GLORY.  539 

wonders  attending-  the  birth  of  Jesus.  But  one  makes  men- 
tion of  the  miraculous  star,  and  the  wise  men  from  the  east : 
and  one  onl\^  mentions  the  ang-el  of  the  resurrection:  but 
one  describes  the  ascension.  In  their  combined  account 
there  may  be  ^rave  omissions.  The  great  outUne  points  in 
the  history  of  the  Master's  hfe,  each  was  under  obligation 
to  rehearse;  however  limited  in  other  respects  his  narrative 
might  be.  These  specific  points,  all  have  made  the  material 
of  their  respective  histories. 

Out  of  the  vast  amount  of  other  matter  each  has  made 
his  selection  according  to  the  dominant  purpose  in  his 
own  mind.  Each  is  full  of  a  single  thought;  and  has  in  his 
mind  a  single  aim.  To  Matthew  Jesus  is  the  long-expected 
King,  verified  by  the  exact  and  minute  fulfillment  of  the  an- 
cient prophecies.  As  a  Jew  he  gives  his  descent  in  the  re- 
gal line  through  his  legal  father;  and  reminds  his  readers 
continually  of  an  authority  in  him  that  could  not  be  con- 
cealed. He  alone  uses  the  phrase  kingdom  of  heaven,  and 
the  royal  tone  and  the  authorative  decision  are  heard  in 
every  discourse:  the  kingdom  is  an  everlasting  kingdom, 
over  the  invisible  as  well  as  the  visible. 

Peter,  the  real  author  of  the  second  gospel,  describes 
Jesus  as  the  man  of  action.  His  tireless  industry,  inde- 
fatigable zeal  and  resistless  might  stamped  themselves  upon 
his  memory  indelibly.  He  was  the  man  to  take  note  of 
these  very  characteristics.  He  gives  us  a  more  vivid  im- 
pression of  the  unparalleled  energy  and  power  of  the  great 
miracle  worker.  A  few  of  the  signal  miracles  and  interviews 
of  the  master,  he  details  at  length  Avith  a  particularity  and 
force  not  found  in  the  other  accounts.  His  one  thought  is 
the  resistless  power. 

In  like  manner  Luke  was  full  of  one  grand  conception. 
Being  a  Gentile,  he  with  Matthew  has  preserved  for  us  one 
of  the  designations  of  the  Nazarene  by  his  enemies:  "the 
friend  of  publicans  and  sinners;''  intended  for  a  harmful 
slander,  but  really  containing  a  divinely  glorious  gospel 
truth.  His  selection  of  parables  and  facts  has  continual 
reference  to  this  aspect  of  his  Lord's  character;  and  his 
history  is  but  a  commentary  upon  this  then  novel  and  sur- 
prising gospel. 


540  VICTOR   OYER   DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE, 

The  one  object  of  the  fourth  writer  seems  to  be  to  detail 
the  enmity  of  his  nation  against  their  divine  Messiah  from 
its  inception  to  its  fearful  culmination.  He  has  recited  but 
six  of  the  miracles:  the  first,  because  it  was  the  fii'st:  and 
the  last  for  a  similar  reason,  and  because  it  was  wrought 
upon  an  enemy  in  arms  against  him.  He  has  selected  the 
four  intermediate  miracles  for  his  history,  which  inflamed 
the  enmity  of  the  Jewish  rulers  and  people  to  the  utmost 
intensity  of  hatred,  and  led  to  his  rejection  and  cruci- 
fixion. With  this  description  of  Jewish  hatred,  he  has  com- 
bined the  most  sublime  and  convincing  announcements  of 
the  Savior's  real  standing  and  supreme  divinity. 

No  history  could  possibly  be  written  more  bare  of  descrip- 
tion than  the  four  gospels.  They  read  like  notes  taken  by 
some  spirit  from  another  sphere,  unmoved  by  human  sym- 
pathies, and  recording  without  comment.  Not  a  mark  of 
blind  partisanship  can  be  detected;  not  the  faintest  trace 
of  prejudice  against  the  persecutors;  nor  the  least  shading* 
of  national  bigotry.  The  muse  of  history  was  recording 
with  the  pen  of  truth,  aloof  from  all  the  passionate  agita- 
tions of  the  hour.  In  short  the  four  gospels  are  devoid  of 
human  weaknesses  and  bias,  and  radiant  with  truth. 

It  is  not  probable  that  one  thousandth  part  of  the  mira- 
cles are  recorded ;  for  on  three  or  more  distinct  and  separate 
occasions  our  Lord  is  described  as  surrounded  by  an  eager 
throng  of  diseased,  deformed  and  crippled  subjects,  await- 
ing his  arrival,  who  are  pressing  to  touch  him ;  and  every 
one  who  succeeded  iri  touching  but  the  thread  of  his  gar- 
ment's fringe  is  perfectly  and  permanently  restored,  whatever 
his  calamity  may  have  been.  In  the  midst  of  a  crowd  he 
stands  as  a  fountain  ^of  life,  not  impoverished  by  giving. 
Such  a  company  never  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  great  and 
l)Owerful  to  greet  them  with  a  parade  of  their  misery. 

When  these  miracles  were  wrought  singl}^  each  one  had 
its  own  separate  history.  The  various  methods,  by  which 
our  Lord  elicited,  or  assisted  and  strengthened  faith  where 
it  existed,  which  form  the  most  interesting  portion  of  the 
story,  remain  untold.  His  methods  were  as  diversified  as 
the  classes  of  the  human  family. 


LORD  OF   LIFE  AND   GLORY.  541 

All  interestino-  instance  is  that  of  the  blind  man,  whom 
he  led  bj  the  hand  out  of  the  city  of  Bethsaida  to  the 
shade  of  some  grove  in  the  vicinity.  This  man  had  once 
enjoyed  the  blessing-  of  sight  now  lost;  and  seems  to  have 
had  very  little  faith  in  the  possibility  of  its  recovery.  His 
friends  believed  for  him.  Our  Lord  touched  his  eyes  Avith 
his  own  spittle,  and  permitted  him  to  perceive  a  faint 
glimmer  of  daylight,  by  which  he  saw  the  trunks  of  the 
surrounding  trees,  and  also  men,  whom  he  was  able  to 
distinguish  to  be  men,  only  by  their  motion  in  walking. 
If  this  return  of  sight  lasted  onlj^  for  a  few  moments,  it  was 
enough  to  convince  him  of  the  power  of  the  operator :  and 
to  awaken  an  eager  faith,  and  a  keen  desire ;  and  thus  pre- 
pare him  to  receive  the  blessing  of  perfect  sight,  granted, 
as  all  the  gifts  of  Jesus  were,  to  faith  only.  His  varied 
treatment  for  securing  this  faith  in  the  respective  cases 
forms  the  most  instructive  portion  of  the  gospel  narrative. 

And  then  the  evangelists  make  no  mention  of  the  grati- 
tude of  the  recipients  of  his  favors.  There  are  but  three 
cases  mentioned,  in  which  any  display  of  gratitude  is  re- 
corded. These  are  the  two  anointings  and  the  worship  of  the 
Samaritan  leper.  These  are  made  matters  of  history  simply 
because  a  lesson  was  connected  with  each.  Doubtless  the 
most  enthusiastic  emotions  of  rapturous  gratitude  uttered 
with  the  greatest  transports  of  joy  were  common.  The  man 
lame  from  his  mother's  womb,  mentioned  in  Acts  III.  ch., 
as  healed  hj  Peter  and  John,  was  by  no  means  excessive 
in  his  demonstrations.  His  happiness  from  the  relief  which 
he  had  experienced  could  not  be  contained ;  and  could  only 
find  due  expression  in  the  most  extravagant  indulgence  of 
his  newly  attained  ability. 

Unquestionably  demonstrations,  which  a  cold  world  would 
pronounce  frantic,  and  praises^offered  to  God  with  all  the 
strength  of  voice  possible,  and  prostrations  at  the  feet  of 
Jesus,  with  the  most  affecting  signs  of  felt  obligation, 
were  so  common  as  to  be  passed  over  in  the  written 
narrative  in  utter  silence.  The  writers  have  not  tarried 
upon  any  of  the  incidental  circumstances,  or  loaded  their 
pages  with  anything  beyond  the  bare  facts.  No  comment 
of   the   historian    is    added.    Testimony  in  the  purest  and 


542  VICTOR  OVER  DEATH  A^D  THE  GRAVE. 

most  solemn  court  on  earth,  could  not  be  more  free  from 
inadmissible  accompaniments,  and  sustained  by  facts  only. 
The  individuality  of  each  writer  guided  in  the  selection  of 
his  facts:  the  four  combined  present  a  full  view  of  the 
central  figure:  but  more  maybe  withheld  than  is  disclosed, 
which  if  added  would  only  confirm  what  we  possess,  l^ut 
it  is  only  a  small  fraction  that  we  kuow. 

There  was  a  stage  of  his  ministry,  which  may  be  justly 
named  the  stage  of  miracles;  reaching  from  the  time  when 
the  apostles  were  called  to  stated  attendance  upon  him,  to 
his  rejection  of  the  royalty ;  because  miracles  were  of  dailj^ 
perhaps  of  hourly  occurrence,  sometimes  scores  in  an  hour 
during  that  period  of  a  year.  The  whole  country  was  in 
motion,  so  to  speak,  and  gravitating  toward  him  with  a 
centripetal  attraction.  The  knowledge  of  his  expected  or 
actual  presence  at  any  point  was  sufficient  to  gather  im- 
mense crowds  in  a  short  time,  bringing  with  them  the 
afflicted  on  beds  or  couches;  until  perhaps  all  the  sufferers  or 
nearly  all  in  the  land,  received  that  relief  which  was  far 
superior  to  any  other  worldly  favor. 

Further,  no  record  is  left  of  the  miracles  wrought  by  the 
disciples  on  their  tours  of  preaching,  nor  by  the  seventy 
whom  he  afterwards  sent  out.  with  authority  to  perform 
all  the  works  which  he  himself  effected.  These  were  as 
truly  the  works  of  the  Christ,  as  those  occurring  b^^  his 
presence.  In  each  case  their  whole  circuit  was  marked  by 
the  most  striking  demonstrations  of  divine  power,  which 
were  equally  amaziri  as  the  healing  of  the  nobleman's  son 
sick  at  Caper-naum  by  the  master  in  Cana  of  Galilee.  Each 
demonstrated  his  power  to  be  effective  at  the  same  mo- 
ment in  different  and  widely  separated  localities.  His  pres- 
ence was  with  each  pair  wherever  they  might  be,  and  his 
aid  was  manifest  at  the  decisive  moment  in  every  case. 

He  thus  probabl3^  reached  evei-y  neighborhood  in  the 
land,  and  every  family  or  at  least  every  kindred  through- 
out the  borders  of  Israel;  and  left  a  witness  of  his  power 
and  merc}^  in  every  village  or  hamlet,  perhaps  in  every 
group  of  relatives ;  so  that  ])ossibly  there  may  not  have 
been  an  individual  to  be  found   in   the    country,    who    had 


LORD   OF   LIFE   AND   GLORY.  543 

not  before  bis  eyes  some  bviii"'  evidence  amou^'  bis  friends 
or  kin  of  the  migbty  power  ani  tender  compassion  of  tbe 
wonderful  man  of  Nazareth. 

As  tbe  poHtical  atmosphere  was  clear  during  the  period 
of  his  ministry,  and  nothing  of  national  importance  was 
occurring  to  divert  attention,  our  Lord  must  have  mon- 
opolized the  gaze  not  only  of  Judea,  but  of  neighboring- 
nations  as  well,  of  which  Idumea  and  Tyre  and  Sidon  are 
particularly  mentioned;  and  others  still  in  patristic  history. 

The  evangelists  make  no  attempt  to  describe  HIM.  In 
reading  any  book  of  biography  or  of  history,  it  is  common 
and  almost  unavoidable  to  form  in  our  own  mind  an  image 
of  the  actor  or  the  hero  about  whom  interest  centers.  The 
closest  examination  of  the  gospel  records  fails  however  to 
discover  the  slightest  allusion,  from  which  to  infer  anything 
about  the  personal  appearance  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  The 
narrative  is  remarkable  in  this  respect:  that  while  full  in- 
formation is  afforded  in  matters  pertaining  to  salvation, 
not  an  additional  word  is  vouchsafed  on  subjects  not  con- 
tributing to  this  end.  This  fact  illustrates  the  superintend- 
ing agency  of  the  divine  spirit  directing  the  writers.  The 
world's  apprehension  of  the  Savior  is  to  be  spiritual  only, 
and  not  in  the  least  sensuous. 

Human  fancy  cannot  depict  him.  Our  sin-besotted  souls 
fail  in  all  attempts  to  realize  such  a  character.  Imagina- 
tion fails  in  the  conception  of  a  countenance  luminous  with 
absolute  holiness:  art  has  ever  failed  in  the  attempt  to 
represent  it.  The  common  idea  of  perfect  purity  is  that  it 
is  freedom  from  these  vices,  those  weaknesses  and  the  other 
temptations.  Such  are  negative  ideas ;  but  a  bundle  of  neg- 
atives does  not  form  a  picture  at  all.  Holiness  is  some- 
thing positive.  Jesus  was  no  negative  character.  God's 
holiness  is  like  a  consuming  fire,  it  is  the  intense  whiteness 
of  the  fiercest  element  of  destruction  known  to  man.  If  the 
face  of  Moses  shone  with  light  from  communion  with  this 
being,  and  the  reception  of  a  little  of  his  spirit,  who  can 
form  a  suitable  impression  of  the  face,  from  which  the  veil 
was  removed  but  once  for  a  short  time  on  the  Mount  of 
Transfiguration;  and  it  shone  like  the  sun?  What  imagin- 
ation can  picture  the  countenance  of  him,   who  cannot  he, 


544  VICTOR   OVER   DEATH  AND  THE   GRAVE. 

who  cannot  bate,  who  does  not  look  upon  sin  or  behold 
iniquity?  He  could  not  be  described;  no  pen  could  paint 
him . 

To  the  man 3^  his  presence  was  oppressive:  it  suggested 
contrasts  with  themselves,  that  were  humiliating  and  pain- 
ful; it  recalled  memories  long  since  buried,  and  forebodings 
not  easily  silenced.  His  look  had  in  it  a  rebuke  sharper 
than  the  sting  of  conscience;  and  men  turned  away  from 
him,  as  we  turn  our  quivering  lids  from  the  midday  sun. 
In  his  presence,  judgment  and  doom  were  no  longer  far  off 
matters,  veiled  in  clouds  of  doubt;  but  nigh,  at  the  very 
door.  What  fancy  can  see  in  vision  that  eye,  which  the 
greatest  men  in  the  nation  could  not  endure ?  before  which 
a  conscious  evil-doer  could  not  stand?  before  which  brave 
and  hardened  men  went  backward,  and  fell  to  the  ground? 
It  was  an  apprehension  of  this  divine  quality'  that  sub- 
dued crowds,  and  gave  an  irresistible  authority  to  his 
words. 

What  idea  is  attainable  of  a  being  absolutely  pure  from 
the  slightest  taint,  looking  upon  society  with  a  shrinking 
horror;  yet  3'earning  over  it  with  the  tenderest  pity?  This 
compassion  was  so  deep  and  earnest;  that  its  lines  were 
written  in  large  characters  visible  afar  off  on  his  mobile 
features.  The  words,  "he  was  moved  with  compassion,''  so 
often  repeated,  "Jesus  looking  upon  him  loved  him,"  his 
tears  over  his  enemies,  his  dying  prayer  for  his  murderers, 
"Father,  forgive  them,"  exhibit  a  spirit,  that,  were  the 
artist  an  angel,  no  imagination  could  pictui'e,  and  no  colors 
delineate.  Tongues  b\  clay  can  never  tell  it,  nor  pens  of 
earth  write  it.  He  is  still  the  unseen,  the  invisible:  he  is 
to  be  apprehended  spiritually.  A  broken  heart  can  still  see 
him,  by  stooping  low  enough;  but  only  through  a  lens 
made  of  tears. 

Notwitstanding  the  silence  of  the  evangelist,  it  may  be 
confidently^  stated;  that  our  Lord  was  beautiful.  Atten- 
tion has  been  dii-ected  in  foregoing  pages  to  passages  which 
show  that  there  was  an  ethereality  about  his  appearance; 
suiting  the  only  human  body,  that  was  never  defaced  or 
tainted  by  sin.  The  grossness  of  animalism,  the  disturb- 
ance of   passion,  the  blight  of  evil  had  never  defiled  it.    It 


LOKD  OF  LIFE   AND  GLORY.  545 

was  "in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh";  but  it  was  still  '"that 
holy  thing"  unsoiled.  A  divine  love  in  the  soul  of  a  sinful 
man  illumines  the  features  with  its  own  impress;  and  is 
"an  ornament  of  grace  and  a  crown  of  glory;"  giving  its 
subject  consummate  ease  and  self-command  in  all  circum- 
stances, however  trying. 

So  Jesus  possessed  a  countenance  at  once  majestic  and 
winning,  the  utmost  grace  of  manner,  a  living  adaptation  to 
all  the  demands  of  every  occasion,  the  ingenuity  and  tact 
which  affection  breeds,  and  a  facility  of  imparting  instruc- 
tion exactly  to  the  point.  Such  an  inward  light  would 
render  features  supremely  beautiful,  however  coarse;  but  it 
is  not  necessary  to  suppose  that  in  our  [.lOrd,  there  was 
any  want  of  correspondence  in  form  or  feature  with  the 
refinement  of  his  soul,  or  any  deviation  from  true  and  per- 
fect taste.  Unquestionably  the  clay  was  beautiful,  the  expres- 
sion of  the  intelligence  made  it  more  enchanting;  and  the 
indwelling  soul  lighted  all  with  an  indescribable  lustre. 

Further,  every  beholder  must  have  been  struck  with  the 
unearthly  serenity  of  his  aspect.  The  solid  calm  of  heaven 
must  have  showed  itself  in  that  face,  that  was  never  dis- 
turbed by  passion  or  worry.  Himself  the  fountain  of  the 
"peace  which  passeth  all  understanding"  was  its  most 
shining  example.  Peace,  deep  as  the  blue  vault  of  heaven 
above,  had  its  source  in  him,  and  made  him  imperturbable 
by  any  influence  whatever.  He  felt  only  the  Father's  frown. 
Men,  "careful  and  troubled  about  many  things,"  are  jostled 
out  of  level  by  the  slightest  jar;  nothing  had  power  to 
agitate  him ;  not  the  passing  away  of  the  heaven  and  earth. 

In  forming  our  conception  of  his  appearance,  still  another 
element  is  to  be  introduced :  submission  to  the  Father's 
will.  For  him  to  live  upon  this  earth,  which,  as  he  often 
explained,  was  voluntary  on  his  part,  required  a  continual 
acquiescence  in  the  will  of  another.  This  air  of  submission 
never  left  him :  after  the  conflict  in  Gethsemane  it  lent  a 
holy  radiance  to  his  countenance.  In  the  experience  of  a 
mortal,  the  "joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory"  enters  the 
soul  at  the  moment  of  entire  and  prostrate  submission  to 
the  will  of  a  just  and  holy  God ;  and  "the  crown  of  glory" 

—35 


546  VICTOR   OVER    DEATH   AND   THE   GRAVE. 

is  Oil  the  brow.  The  heioht  of  holy  exultation  follows  in- 
stantly the  full  surrender  of  the  will  to  the  pleasure  of  the 
most  Hig;h.  In  the  ease  of  our  Lord,  the  humanity  hesi- 
tated at  the  prospect  of  the  impending  suffering;  but  sub- 
mission had  its  perfect  work.  Love  triumphed,  and  said : 
"If  this  cup  may  not  pass  except  I  drink  it;  thy  will  be 
done."  His  visage  was  glorified  by  the  surrender.  No  halo 
was  needed  to  distinguish  him.  It  was  this  that  so  drew 
the  gaze  of  Pilate.  He  was  amazed  at  the  silence  of  his 
prisoner;  at  the  loftiness  of  his  bearing,  declining  to  answer; 
at  the  majesty,  which  shame  and  spitting  could  not  defile; 
most  of  all,  at  the  submission  of  the  lamb  in  the  midst  of 
wolves,  of  innocence  in  the  hands  of  murderers.  The  sight 
thrilled  the  Roman  with  feelings  he  had  never  known  be- 
fore, and  drew  his  whole  attention.  Even  after  he  had 
been  informed;  that  the  accused  claimed  to  be  divine,  he 
declared  with  the  most  solemn  emphasis:  "I  find  in  him 
no  fault  at  all;"  and  almost  begged  that  Roman  soldiers 
might  be  excused  from  participating  in  the  execution. 

And  then  how  meagre  is  the  report  of  his  words!  The 
office  of  a  miracle  is  simply  to  call  attention  to  these,  and 
illustrate  them.  The  miracle  is  the  finger  of  God  pointing 
to  the  essential  truth.  The  teachings  are  to  exert  their  in- 
fluence while  the  world  remains;  while  the  advertising  mir- 
acle has  but  a  transient  office.  These  words  of  our  Lord 
are  to  decide  eternal  destinies.  They  are  as  seeds  cast  into 
the  soil  of  humanity  to  germinate  through  the  centuries, 
whose  fruit  will  yet  J^  a  millennium.  They  are  like  leads 
in  the  mining  count^y  conducting  to  hidden  deposits  of 
wealth.  They  are  the  leaven  which  Christ  has  cast  into 
society,  whose  workings  will  agitate  the  mass  with  social 
upheaval  and  overturning,  until  the  whole  is  leavened. 
These  words  are  the  sword  which  he  came  to  send  on  the 
earth;  the  fire  which  he  kindled,  which  will  yet  set  the 
earth  aflame.  Through  them  a  great  light  comes  to  us, 
revealing  the  full  orbed  glory  of  the  divine  character,  the 
before  unknown  principles  of  a  true  morality,  and  exhibit- 
ing true  virtue,  with  all  that  relates  to  our  destiny  and 
doom.  If  anything  (Connected  with  the  great  teacher  should 


LORD  OF  LIFE   AND   GLORY.  547 

have  been  reported  in  full ;  there  could  be  no  hesitation  in 
saying,  that  this  distinction  should  have  belonged  to  the 
words;  but  all  the  teachings  recorded,  if  comprised  in  a 
single  pamphlet,  dropping  the  words  of  the  narrators,  would 
not  occujjj  the  space  of  a  single  sermon  of  our  day.  We 
have  brief  specimens  of  his  public  discourses,  of  his  private 
conversations,  and  his  replies  in  the  contests  forced  upon 
him  ;  showing  him  to  be  the  infallible  discriminator  of  char- 
acter, reading  the  heart  with  eyes  of  fire,  withering  the 
hypocrite  as  he  did  the  fig-tree,  and  driving  out  the  pre- 
tenders b3^  the  flash  of  his  eye.  We  behold  him  also  nurs- 
ing the  smoking  flax  into  a  flame,  binding  up  the  bruised 
reed,  carrying  the  lambs  in  his  bosom,  and  gently  leading- 
the  oppressed.  We  have  a  world  of  theology  in  a  nutshell 
of  language;  and  windows  are  opened  in  heaven  through 
which  glimpses  are  obtained  of  the  excellent  glory.  The 
evangelists  must  have  been  divinely  assisted  to  convey  to 
us  in  so  small  compass  the  great  facts  and  bottom  princi- 
]3les  of  Christianit\^  with  all  needed  directions  for  life  and 
duty. 

The  first  thirty  years  of  his  life  are  passed  over  in  the 
histories,  as  containing  nothing  that  could  help  us  towards 
our  own  salvation;  but  as  his  divine  personality  is  con- 
ceded, they  become  a  most  interesting  part  of  his  life.  We 
only  know  that  his  childhood  was  spotless  and  pure;  that 
he  never  came  into  angry  collision  with  his  fellows;  never 
contended  for  his  own  rights  against  others;  never  called 
names  as  Raca;  was  never  disobedient  to  parents;  that  in 
him  was  no  guile.  But  these  are  but  negative  ideas ;  there 
was  in  him  an  overflovAing  kindness,  which  made  him  beau- 
tiful as  a  rose  from  Eden,  and  fragrant  of  the  heaven  from 
which  he  had  come.     . 

His  youth  was  pre-eminently  lovely.  Tempted,  as  we  are 
iri  all  points,  he  was  never  moved  bj'  evil  companions. 
There  are  no  worse  savages  in  the  western  wilds,  than  boys 
of  a  certain  age:  bullies,  tyrants,  mockers,  revilers,  liars, 
mischief  makers.  Among  all  these,  the  boy  of  Nazareth 
passed  undefiled.  We  gain  a  glimpse  of  him  at  twelve  years 
of  age  in  Jerusalem:  not  a  street-runner,  nor  a  sight-seer; 


548  VICTOU   OYER  DEATH  AND  THE   GRAVE. 

but  remaining  behind  his  company,  as  lotli  to  leave  his 
Father's  house.  His  heart  beat  in  hioli  sympathy  with  his 
Father's  business,  even  then.  Old  and  hoary  heads  bent  to 
him  with  respect ;  and  the  doctors  were  in  ecstacies  over  his 
understanding-  and  his  answers.    Such  was  the  boy. 

As  he  grew  up,  he  became  the  reader  in  the  synagogue: 
if  this  is  not  implied  in  the  words  of  Luke,  the  information 
given  in  them  is  simply  that  he  attended  the  synagogue 
service  statedly :  a  piece  of  unnecessary  information.  Such 
is  a  brief  sketch  of  what  is  not  communicated  in  the  history 
left  us.  "The  secret  things  belong  unto  the  Lord  our  God: 
but  those  things  which  are  revealed  belong  unto  us  and  to 
our  children  forever,  that  we  may  do  all  the  words  of  this 
law." 


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